Horizon School Division central office
staff and Board trustees have finished packaging gifts for children and
families for this year's Christmas Hamper Project. The process for this
year's project involved new measures to ensure physical distancing,
limited groups of staff working at one time, face masks, and
sanitization during the packing and wrapping process. The holiday spirit
remained, however, as presents, books, gift cards, and other items were
packaged and sent to families in need.
The Horizon Christmas
Hamper Project, now in it's seventh year, collects donations from staff
and individual Board members to purchase gifts and distribute them
across communities within Horizon School Division. Horizon's Board of
Education has committed funds to add to these donations. Funds are used
to buy gifts such as grocery gift cards, touques, mitts, books, toys,
and various other items to help spread goodwill and holiday cheer to
less fortunate families in Horizon communities.
The program
would not be successful without the generosity of our schools, staff,
School Community Councils, Horizon Teachers' Association, CUPE Local
4799, along with local businesses such as the Haus of Stitches, St.
John's Lutheran Church in Humboldt, Humboldt Coop, and numerous other
community partners who contribute to the initiative throughout the
season. Anyone who wishes to contribute to this project is welcome to do
so, and can contact Horizon School Division's central office for more
information.
"This year, the number of students and families we
are able to support with this project has grown to the highest numbers
we have seen," said Horizon's Director of Education, Kevin Garinger.
"2020 has been a challenging year for so many, and we are proud of the
support our Christmas Hamper Project receives. To be able to share the
holiday spirit with our families and children during this very special
season is a privilege and a joy. Horizon's Board, staff, and community
partners make this possible, and I am grateful for everyone involved."
Each
year, school administrators submit names of students and families they
feel would benefit from this project. In 2014, the first year of
Horizon's Christmas Hamper project, gift baskets were provided for 98
children and 46 families. This year, Horizon will be sharing gifts with
440 children and 174 families. This initiative is part of Horizon's goal
of providing Safe & Caring learning environments for all students
and staff.





