Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 15, 2007, Winnipeg, Manitoba a8 Winnipeg free press saturday. December 15, 2007 Manitoba kids in Louis Riel division learn philanthropy Early i f you be Ever wondered where the next generation of philanthropists Are coming from take a look at students in the Louis Riel school Divi Sion. Students at All 40 schools in the Divi Sion ? everyone from Kinder Garten to Grade 12 and ones in life skills pro Grams ? donated a staggering amount of coins to pennies from heaven through the culmination of its own pen Nies from a red Campaign this past thursday. This Campaign now in its fifth year started off with just a few students at a single school wanting to support the Winnipeg free press a annual pennies fundraiser for Christmas cheer Board and Winnipeg Harvest. Now the fundraiser has grown to the Point where the local Bank of Montreal actually had to beg off in Advance from accepting the coins ? there Are that Many. Usually at these types of events i a the one wearing the Angel wings. But on this occasion i Felt it was More fitting for division superintendent Terry Borys to Wear them. I still can see the look of wonder Terry had As he strapped on the wings to the Joy Ful grins of his staff. What a important is that everyone can contribute a Penny Borys said. We have 40 schools and some Are in areas without As much but you can see that today every school has people cheer Board puts out Call for Drivers by Chris Webb Volunteer Drivers Are urgently needed at Winnipeg a Christmas cheer Board to deliver hampers to needy fam Ilies across Winnipeg in the midst of a Bone chilling cold snap. We Haven to had the Normal flow of Drivers and if we Don to get these Ham pers delivered by the 23rd, i a leaving town Kai Madsen cheer Board executive director joked Friday. We usually need about 2,000 to 2,500 Drivers but with the cold conditions its been hard getting people about 4,000 hampers have been delivered so far Madsen said. The response from families and volunteers has been just wonderful he said. But the cold has been slowing things Down a Little even a Gas leak at the warehouse could to slow the cheer boards dedicated volunteers. Madsen said the leak at the warehouse on Ellice Avenue gave volunteers an unexpected break Friday morning but they were Back hard at work later in the Day. while Jarrett Kosmac a Grade 9 Stu Dent at . Bruns collegiate strummed his acoustic guitar representatives from school after school streamed in. College Beliveau students Josh Schettler Leah single Nikki Lewis Terryn Shiells and Brett Mikulik were there along with their Mascot Barry the Barracuda . David Gagnon. A Little while later Shamrock school students brought in about 32,000 pen Nies. The kids just kept bringing them in every Day said vice principal Jordan Falconer. After All the coins were delivered three cargo vans pulled out from the division offices and threaded their Way through traffic to their destination ? the Christmas cheer Board. Kai Madsen the cheer boards chief Elf could to contain his smile when the coins arrived. Not Only do the students in the Louis Riel school division fill hampers for us Here but they also collect pen Nies Madsen said. And these pennies can add up to a lot of with Christmas less than two weeks we have people that keep coming Back each year to help out said mad sen who credits volunteers for helping the cheer Board deliver More than 20,000 Holiday hampers each year. One of those Veteran volunteers Stan Scarr said being retired gives him the time to help those less fortunate. ? thursday was the first Day we went out and it was a Little slow because of the weather he said. But we expect this weekend to be a really Busy Scarr said Winni Eggers come Back each year to Volunteer their time and away we need your coins Bills and cheques now to help make this Campaign a Success. Through your donations we can make sure our local hungry receive the magic of Christmas through cheer Board hampers and from our local food Bank. You see you re never to old to learn. a big thank you to these generous donors Westworth United Church women in memory of Jamie Bruchanski in memory of Kate Allardice in memory of Fred Anderson agape Villa Alphonse Michaud Margaret Morse Elizabeth Downey Mark and Eva Whitmore Christine Beauchamp Margaret Laing Bette Serger Ruth Zahodnick Anonymous Jeffrey Sisler and Cathy Rippin Sisler Shelley Timlick Donna and Douglas tuck Jillian Wasyliw 8 years of age George Perreaux Gordon Leberge George Battershill great West life information services division Armand Baccus Bob Preston Stephanie buddy Les Hurley Alva & Mac Kathy Kustra Jim Kerslake Kim Normand there a never a real shortage of helping hands. Last Christmas a total of 53,202 volunteers helped deliver 20,109 hampers. More than half the food and toys Are donated by individuals and companies and everything else required is bought by the cheer Board. Those interested in volunteering with the cheer Board or making a donation can Call 989-5680. ;