Student Toy Drive at Sydenham HS - Dec. 20

Dec 20, 2012

Photo: Jim Kelly, Peter Stewart, Mikaela Horton, Kristina Bradbury and Sue Clinton at Sydenham High School

In an effort to bring joy to children and families in need in their community, one grade 12 student at Sydenham High School took it upon herself to get students and staff involved in a local initiative that supports those in need in the community. Kristina Bradbury, who is a grade 12 student at the school, approached Sue Clinton, chair of the Loughborough Christmas and Emergency Relief Committee, to find out how she could assist. For close to 25 years the committee has been putting together Christmas baskets that go out every year to local families in the community and Sue Clinton welcomed Kristina’s idea to run a toy drive at the school, with the toys being added to those baskets. “For some children these toys may be the only toys they receive during the holiday season,” Clinton said.

Kristina Bradbury was assisted by fellow grade 12 student Mikaela Horton and their guidance counselor, Corinna Goldring, who acted as their school liaison in the effort. The two students put up posters around the school back in mid-November and made announcements over the school's PA system, inviting both students and staff to donate new and gently used toys to the baskets. In total, 60 toys and games were collected, all of which will be included in the more than 60 baskets that will be given out at the Grace Centre in Sydenham to over 60 local families.

Sue Clinton said that she was pleased to see students stepping forward to help out. “It's really great to see students getting involved and helping to give back to the local community in this way and it's especially great to see them taking the initiative.” Both students will be returning to Sydenham High next year for their final year and their guidance counselor said she feels that they both have promising futures ahead.

Asked if the tradition will continue on, Kristina said that she would be happy to continue the toy drive next year and hopes that other students might take it over in years to come.