By Colin MacGillivray
BROADFORD Primary School students are lending a helping hand to less fortunate community members this Christmas, making a large food donation to charity Love in Action.
Students raised $376 with a free-dress day at school last month, and four grade six leaders took the money to IGA Broadford to pick out a range of Christmas treats including chocolates, chips and bon bons.
The school also placed donation boxes in every classroom for students to donate non-perishable food items, and will present all the food to Love in Action this week.
Love in Action is a community group that helps vulnerable families across the Mitchell Shire with support in the way of food and household supplies.
Broadford Primary School captain Charlie Warren said it felt good to be able to help other members of the community.
“We did it last year as well. We came up with the idea as a group,” he said.
“It means people who need help and can’t afford to have their own Christmas will get something.”
Broadford Primary School teacher Kate Edwards said the students had shown great leadership in organising the donation.
“We only did the donation [boxes] last year, and this year the students thought it would be a good idea to raise some more money and buy some things themselves,” she said.
“Everyone got on board and $376 was an amazing result for a gold coin donation. They got really excited about it and they promoted it.
“We’ve had such a tough year, but in this last term they’ve all jumped on board.
“I hope that it will continue and become a new tradition, because I love it – I think it’s awesome.”
Love in Action Broadford founder Barb Radford said the donations would be gratefully received.
“Rather than just having them give us the money, we thought it would be good if the kids chose the goods themselves,” she said.
“That way they actually get to see what their fundraising is doing.
“They’ve done such a great job, and it’s all about teaching the kids responsibility.”
