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Santa’s Elves program provides toys for 409 youth this holiday season

After 50 years, the Santa’s Elves program continues to provide gifts for Bonnyville and area families with the support of the community, Bonnyville Centralized High School and the Knights of Columbus.

BONNYVILLE – Students and staff from Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) were busy wrapping Christmas presents for 157 Bonnyville and area families on Monday to be added to the Knights of Columbus Christmas Hampers. 

With the generosity and participation of the community and local businesses, the BCHS Santa's Elves program gathered, packed and wrapped gifts for 409 newborns through to 17-year-olds to go under the trees of families this holiday season. 

In past years, volunteers from the community were welcomed on a single night in December to help wrap the hundreds of gifts that are donated annually to the program. However, the community wrapping party did not take place this year due to continued COVID-19 health measures.  

After a year gap from toy collections, volunteers were excited to be able to wrap and provide actual gifts once again, BCHS Principal Mark Centazzo told Lakeland This Week

Last year due to the pandemic, bags of toys and gifts were replaced with gift cards that were purchased with monetary donations from community members and local businesses. The program last year also provided over 400 gifts for children at Christmas. 

“We quarantined the cards in envelopes for several days before they were actually distributed, but this year we're back into the toys, which we are really excited about,” Centazzo said. 

“It is only through the generosity and diligent contributions of staff, students and the community in the Bonnyville area that makes this endeavor possible.” 

Monetary donations for the Santa’s Elves program will be accepted by the school until January. Any donations not used this year will be stored to assist the start of the program next year. 

Feels good to give back 

Kailey Massick, a Grade 12 BCHS student, carefully folds and tapes the decorative paper around a gift that will find its way under the tree of someone in her community. 

This is the third year Massick has participated in the Santa’s Elves program. 

“I absolutely love being involved. It's so amazing to know that we are able to actually help and give back to our community so that everyone gets to feel that little bit of Christmas joy that they well deserve,” she said. 

Even as a student, Massick says she and her classmates have noticed that the last few years have been difficult for many families in the community. 

“I'm sure a lot of us feel like we're giving back a little extra this year. I know the past couple years has been really hard on people and it's sad to me the struggles that some people have had to go through,” she said. “It's really important that we realize and recognize and see that we are able to help people. At least for me, and I know for a few of my other classmates, we really appreciate to get this opportunity to give back and help.” 

Although Massick will graduate in June, she plans to come back next year as a community volunteer to pitch in once again. 

50 years in the making 

The Santa's Elves program started in 1971, and every year since then, BCHS collects new unwrapped toys and gifts for kids and families who are in need during the Christmas season. 

Each year, BCHS works in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus as they run their Christmas food hamper program. Families in need are able register to receive a hamper of groceries for the holiday season. The form for the hampers also gives families a chance to request a gift package for their children from newborn to 17 years of age. 

“These hampers are an impressive collection of food items that will help families during a time of year that can be financially challenging,” said Centazzo. “By supporting BCHS Santa’s Elves, the community is helping ensure that our local children are able to celebrate Christmas.” 

Names of the families are kept confidential by the Knights of Columbus. The school sorts and wraps gifts based on age and gender identified by each family. Then the Knights of Columbus deliver the grocery hampers with each family also receiving gifts for their children. 

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