Woodbridge Farms Elementary students collected donations of clothes, toys, toiletries and other items for the two non-profits Bags of Love and Basically Babies.

Sherwood Park, AB. — From October 16-20, grades 5 and 6 students in the leadership group at Woodbridge Farms Elementary had love in the bag as they collected donations for two organizations: Bags of Love and Basically Babies.

Students were eager to model the citizenship skills they’ve learned at school. They collected donations of clothes, toys, toiletries and other items suitable for babies and young children. “It makes me happy that I get to help people in need,” says Ren Alston, a Grade 6 student at Woodbridge Farms Elementary.

Bags of Love is an organization that works with communities and local Child and Family Services offices to make bags filled with personal items, toys and clothes for children removed from their home for their own safety. Basically Babies provides clothing, toys and other baby items to families living in poverty. The school gathered items based on a list they received for each.

“I love that students can take leadership roles that make a difference,” says Teri Pearn, the assistant principal who runs the leadership group at Woodbridge Farms Elementary. “It keeps them invested in our community and its needs. The community benefits from receiving the donations and it also creates a positive relationship between the community and the school.”

The original idea to support the two organizations came from Karen Baxter—a retired Elk Island Public Schools teacher who volunteers weekly at Woodbridge Farms Elementary. Being a volunteer with the two non-profits as well, she spoke with the school’s leadership group about what the organizations do, what their needs are and how they help people.

The donations from Woodbridge Farms Elementary have been distributed to Bags of Love and Basically Babies to help children and families in need. The school would like to thank everyone in the community for their support and generosity.

Elk Island Public Schools is one of Alberta’s largest school divisions, serving approximately 17,750 students in 42 schools. We are proud to be an integral part of our communities, including Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Strathcona and Lamont counties, and the western portion of the County of Minburn.

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For more information contact:
Laura McNabb, Director, Communication Services, EIPS 780-417-8204 cell 780-405-4902