Hartman students join forces to ensure a warm winter ahead

December 17, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

Students at Hartman Public School have never been a group to shy away from showing their spirit, and when their “Mitten Tree” proved a resounding success last year, they had no hesitation in coming back again to make things bigger and better than ever.

By Monday, the boughs on the Christmas Tree erected outside the school’s main office were beginning to bow under the weight of countless woolly hats and pairs of gloves and mittens donated by students and the school community for local families in need.

And donations are hoped to keep rolling into the school through the end of the week.

“This started off from a committee of staff, parents and students who just wanted to make a change in the community,” says Alexa Dimoulas, a Grade 7 student and member of the school’s Spirit Committee, noting their previous activities through Free the Children’s “We Scare Hunger” program as well as toy drives. “We just wanted to make a change in the community, but it ended up going very well and we took it on again this year.”

According to Alexa and her classmate, Solana Fraser, the fundraisers have shone a light on people in Aurora who are not as fortunate as they are and provided perspective on needs within the community.

“I am thankful for what I have and I am grateful we can just give to somebody else,” says Solana.

Adds Alexa: “We need anything that is a winter essential like scarves, some people brought in ski masks, and just anything that can keep somebody warm. It doesn’t have to be just mittens, hats or gloves. It can be anything that you yourself would want to keep warm.