MOUNT FOREST – For the last 22 years, Wellington Heights Secondary School’s (WHSS) Grade 12 business leadership class has held its “Warm Winter Wishes” charity initiative.
This year, students raised over $15,000 to support local elementary and secondary school students and families in need.
“What we do is we look at the needs of the area, and we write a mission statement for every year,” said WHSS business teacher Christiane Lopez.
“For the last few years, it’s been addressing food insecurity in the area.”
The initiative was achieved through school events and fundraisers, awareness campaigns and corporate donations.
The fundraising events began with a staff pumpkin carving contest on Oct. 26.
There was also a chilli cook-off, silent auctions, winter hat and mitt drive, student/staff hockey game and movie buyout, food drive, gingerbread house decorating contest, dodgeball tournament, art sale, the Winter’s Night event and a few others.
“I really liked the hockey and movie buyout. It brought the school together as a whole,” said student Darren Cherrey-Elliott.
“I feel this class works really well together and we’re all working towards the same goal of helping the less fortunate in our community.”
Warm Winter Wishes was started over two decades ago by now-retired WHSS business teacher Barb Cowen. Over the years it has raised “tens of thousands of dollars,” officials say.
“Our main goal is not just to raise money for [families in need], but also it allows students and staff to come together and gain the sense of community back that was lost during COVID,” said student Yuvika Patel.
The business leadership class, however, does not work alone – representation from student council, athletic council, arts council, the staff association and administration also worked alongside the class to support the many fundraising initiatives.
Wellington Heights has already sent out cheques for $1,000 each to seven local elementary schools, and money will also be dedicated to financially at-risk students at the high school.
The seven recipient schools were:
- Victoria Cross;
- Arthur Public School;
- Kenilworth Public School;
- St. Mary Catholic School;
- St. John Catholic School;
- Egremont Community School; and
- Normanby Community School.
Each school will provide gift cards from local businesses to students in need, which ensures that the money raised stays within the community to benefit the local economy and that students have more choice in the gifts and holiday food they purchase.
Money is also disbursed at various times throughout the year to students, not just during the holiday season, as the school acknowledges students are also in need of food and clothing throughout the school year and summer months.
WHSS encourages students’ families to connect with the other local organizations that can offer further assistance and support, such as the Christmas Bureau and local food banks.
“This class has had an impactful, positive change in the building by fundraising and having fun and by getting into some spirit,” said student Peyton De Michele.
Anyone interested in making a donation to this year’s Warm Winter Wishes campaign can do so by clicking on the Warm Winter Wishes tab on the school website at ugdsb.ca/whss.
