The London District Catholic School Board has been hard at work throughout December to expand its Christmas Gift Program to bring holiday joy to more kids in need.

A crucial initiative of the board, the program has been offered for close to 25 years, ensuring that no child in the system is left behind on Christmas morning. Through various school-wide fundraising projects over the course of the year, the board has been able to provide essential and recreational gifts for students who otherwise may not receive anything this time of year. 

Shari Bastiaansen, an executive assistant to the director of education who has been helping run the initiative for two decades, says the growth of the program since last Christmas was one of the largest in the initiative's history. 

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“It was something minimal when I first started, providing things like hats, mitts and trinket-type items for some students throughout the system. Between then and now, it has grown into a massive production,” she said. “Last year, we provided gifts to close to 500 students and every year the program just keeps getting bigger and bigger.” 

As demand rises, so has the generosity of the people who make the program work. The administration works diligently to identify families who might need support with the help of teachers across the board. As names of students not currently receiving help from other agencies are gathered, further details such as their names, genders, ages, grades, schools, clothing sizes and gift preferences are collected which certify a meaningful gift donation at the end of the year. 

Bastiaansen notes that elementary schools are often featured more frequently than secondary schools. Still, with so many in need being highlighted at this time of year, both parties are looked after. Gift bags are known to contain an age-appropriate book, game, clothing item and various toys depending on age and known preferences. 

Perhaps her favourite aspect of the program, even more so than helping to provide the gifts themselves, is the surprise factor. Each student receiving a gift bag is not told beforehand that something is on the way. 

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“The students have no idea where these gifts are coming from, they just know that they’re under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Even though it is all donation-based, the LDCSB is not attached to the gifts by name,” she said. "To me, it's part of the magic of Christmas. We want to make sure all of our students have a smile on Christmas morning, that there is something under that tree that he or she wanted for Christmas.”

Michelle Huigenbos is also an executive assistant with the board. She said the funds needed to provide gifts to over 500 students isn’t exactly a drop in the bucket. Efforts such as paid lunches, spirit wear sales, raffles and other opportunities serve in part to raise funds for the program. Financially, the board was able to raise around $9,000 in donations for last year’s Christmas Gift Program. 

While both executive assistants have had their work cut out for them this month, the sense of compassion felt by each other upon continuing to support the storied program never leaves them. Both feel the program is anticipated by them just as much, if not more, than the students who receive the gratuitous support. 

“It can be heartbreaking when you get a child that says they want anything from Santa because they don't have any toys. For a six-year-old kid to say, ‘I have nothing, anything you give me, I'm more than grateful to receive’ is part of the reason we love this program so much,” Bastiaansen said. 

“It continues to be one of my favourite times of the year and something that my kids and I look forward to when we go out and shop together,” added Huigenbos. “People get truly excited about this when fall and winter roll around I think because it genuinely makes you feel good being able to make a difference for these kids.” 

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The feeling is one shared across the board, intending to ensure all of the students in their care are looked after well through the Christmas season. 

“The staff always exceed our expectations and everybody that helps us on this board is constantly beaming. It’s all smiles during the season and to us, that is the magic of giving,” said Huigenbos.