Written by Ally Paige
Two nonprofit organizations in Swift Current recently received premium care over the holiday season thanks to Kyle Composite School.
Students and staff at the school worked hard in preparation for the holidays, ensuring that youth in our community could enjoy the season, without the concern of basic needs.
Keisha Padayachee, teacher and Student Leadership Council advisor at Kyle Composite School said that by the end of the 10-day collection period, they were able to donate over 500 items to Dorie’s House and Southwest Crisis services in Swift Current.
“In order to, you know, motivate them a little bit more, we made it a little bit of a competition,” she said. “So, each homeroom was competing against each other and we counted the amount of items in each one, and each of our homerooms brought in over 100 items. So, it was actually a really close competition which was so great to see.”
Padayachee said that a list was sent home to students based on needs brainstormed by the students, as well as by contacting the organizations and asking them what they needed. The list was then divided into a 10-day competition for the students.
She said that the school has done Christmas hampers and different charities throughout the past adding that the students chose Dories House and Southwest Crisis Services this year for personal reasons.
“They brainstormed a bunch of different charities,” she said. “We tried to keep it local, so around where we live and although all the charities were very, very worthy of donations, they ultimately decided that they would like to donate to youth because they are youth themselves.”
Photo courtesy of Kyle Composite School Facebook pagePadayachee noted that there was a vast number of items donated.
“We did do one day that included money and then we had masks and hand sanitizer as the COVID-related needs and then pasta dry goods like crackers and chips,” she said. “We had canned goods, desserts, beverages, snacks and gluten-free items as well.”
They were then able to donate the items the week before Christmas, with Padayachee saying the gratitude she received when dropping the items off was heartwarming.
Though she didn’t make the drop-off personally to Southwest Crisis Services, she said that Dorie’s House was thrilled to receive the items.
“At Dorie’s House, the person that answered the door when I delivered, was not the same person that answered the phone when we called about the items,” she said. “So, she actually had no idea that these items were coming, so it was very unexpected for her and she seemed very over the moon, excited about it. She put on her winter coat and came to my car to help me bring them all in.”
Padayachee added that the student's enthusiasm towards the donations was great to see.
Thu, Apr 25, 9:30 AM
