“This holiday season is celebrated differently all over the world. But the meaning to all these traditions is a message of hope, giving, and good will to all humanity. I believe what our class is inspiring throughout the world is a symbol of LOVE.”– Alyssa L.

Read the incredibly inspiring stories of Christmas goodwill by visiting each of the Participants pages: Friends Family and Community, Schools and Boards and Organizations.

Please share YOUR story OR idea! Fill in this form Give 4 Christmas Story Submission or email us at pcameron@tbcschools.ca Please include your 1) name, 2) city and country. Also include pictures, videos and links! Want to “Christmas Challenge” others? Visit our “You’ve Been Christmas Challenged” page and send them the link!

View our inspiring video which captures our tradition and the spirit of our Give4ChristmasChallenge!

YEAR 3-Christmas 2016 This year, our own school “Christmas tradition” has been put on hold due to circumstances beyond the students’ control. But that hasn’t stopped the kids! They still want to collect YOUR stories of Christmas kindness and are determined to make a difference during the Christmas season with their parents. So please, keep submitting YOUR stories, share our website and challenge others to do the same. Also watch for individual stories shared by my students and their parents!

YEAR 2-Christmas 2015 This Christmas our goal is to reach 100+ countries and have 100 more schools/friends/families/organizations and businesses share their giving stories. Highlights To Date: Read the Chronicle Journal news article about Mayor Keith Hobbs’ visit to our classroom and our interview with CBC’s Superior Morning Show. Please help us to continue to grow our “Christmas kindness snowball”.

YEAR 1: Our Give4ChristmasChallenge was a HUGE success in its inaugural year! Our website was viewed in 60+ countries by over 5000 people with 40 people participating! Highlights included receiving a huge shout out from Matthew West on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/matthewwest and Mr. Cameron was interviewed by a radio station in Budapest, Hungary. This interview can be heard here: http://vimeo.com/115003722 We also received many accolades from dignitaries and politicians, including Minister of Education Liz Sandals, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Kathleen Wynne (click on her name to read her letter to us)!

OUR MISSION

THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR SITE! THE INTENT OF THIS WEBSITE IS TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD SHARE WHAT THEY “GIVE” (or GIVE BACK) AT CHRISTMAS TIME. IT IS OUR HOPES THAT, THROUGH OUR STORIES, MORE PEOPLE WILL BE INSPIRED TO GIVE SIMILAR GIFTS! THIS WEBSITE OUTLINES WHAT WE DO AS A TRADITION AT OUR SCHOOL, FEEL FREE TO USE OUR IDEAS OR CREATE YOUR OWN.

WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON OUR “PARTICIPANTS” PAGE AND CHALLENGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME BY SHARING THIS SITE WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!! Feel free to cut and paste this LETTER from our students for easy sharing!

IF YOUR CLASS/BUSINESS OR FAMILY CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE OUR CLASS WILL EMAIL YOU A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION!!!

St. Elizabeth School’s 20 Year Tradition of Christmas Giving

Over two decades ago, my friend and colleague, Mr. Gerard (Smitty) Smith began an amazing tradition of giving with his grade 6 class to help them experience the true meaning of Christmas. When our paths met at St. Elizabeth school, Smitty and I together continued this activity with our classes for the next fourteen years. When Smitty retired in 2012, Leanne Barch joined me with her class in continuing our Christmas tradition. This experience proves to be one of the most rewarding and life changing experiences of our students’ lives!

The idea is quite simple. Our students raise money in early December by having a school wide bake, raffle and “yard sale”. This is a much anticipated event every year at St. Elizabeth! During the last week of school before the Christmas break, our grade 6 students load the school bus, take the funds they have raised and go on a shopping trip to a local grocery store where they purchase food for the needy. Next, they hand deliver the dozens of bags of food they have purchased to our local Shelter House. Finally, students receive a eye opening and humbling tour of the facilities. Students come away from this experience with so many valuable lessons learned and see Christmas in a very different light. For it is in giving that they receive!

Click here to read parents’ comments and here for a past student’s journal entry chronicling her Christmas Journey!

As an extension, this year our classes will be volunteering to help prepare food at the Shelter House four times throughout the year.

To date, our small school has raised well in excess of $20,000 worth of food for the needy during the Christmas season. It is our hope to grow this tradition and challenge teachers throughout the world to do a similar activity with their own classes.

Merry Christmas!