The spirit of holiday giving filled the hallways and cafeteria at E.L. Crossley on the last school Monday of December when the Interact Club held their annual Holiday Cheer collection. A tradition at the school for over 40 years the event has seen a resurgence in recent years following a lull during COVID restrictions.
This year, the club members kicked it into a new level with the Mascot and cheerleaders welcoming students as they brought down boxes of food, toys, and warm clothing to the cafeteria where they stood for a photo booth and signed a massive Holiday card. Supported by Interact’s sponsoring Rotary Club of Fonthill, the school community adopted 17 families in need who were registered with the Salvation Army in Welland. Each family gets non-perishable food items, a food gift card and personalized gifts for their children. Crossley staff, students and Rotarians collected so many items that they were able to have boxes of extra food, stocking stuffers and warm hats and mitts to add to some of the other families served by the Salvation Army.
Once all the boxes are brought to the cafeteria by each teacher and their class, the Interact members then load the cars of Rotarian volunteers who then take everything down to Holy Trinity Church for distribution. The students in the school learned that giving brings joy equally to those who give as those who receive. The generosity of the community was greatly appreciated by the team at Salvation Army.
Volunteers delivering and receiving gifts at Holy Trinity Church in Welland for the Salvation Army
Gifts organized for transportation at E.L. Crossley Secondary School
