MOUNT FOREST – For more than 20 years, the Grade 12 business leadership class at Wellington Heights Secondary School (WHSS) in Mount Forest has championed a Warm Winter Wishes charity initiative.
Students raise money to support local students and their families in financial need.
The money is raised through school events and fundraisers, awareness campaigns and corporate donations.
Retired WHSS business teacher Barb Cowen came up with the first Warm Winter Wishes campaign idea and over the years raised tens of thousands of dollars with her students through this experiential learning opportunity.
Emily Lubbers has continued this tradition as the current teacher of the business leadership class.
This year the class coordinated various fundraising initiatives that began with a Chili and Soup Cook-Off on Oct. 30.
Other fundraisers included snack sales, corporate donations, silent auctions, a Wolverine girls ice hockey game and movie buyout, Krispy Kreme donut sales, a teacher dare contest, lunch sales and a Night At The Heights event.
Wellington Heights has already sent out cheques to seven local elementary schools, and money will also be dedicated to financially at-risk students at the high school.
Each school will provide gift cards from local businesses to students in need, which ensures money raised stays within the community to benefit the local economy, and that students have choices for the gifts and holiday food they purchase.
Money is also disbursed at various times throughout the year to students, and not just during the holiday season, as students are also in need of food and clothing throughout the school year and summer months.
“Local businesses, community organizations and municipal government have all been very supportive of our Warm Winter Wishes initiative over the years, and Wellington Heights is grateful for the ongoing financial and moral support,” school officials stated in a press release.
The school also encourages local students’ families to connect with other local organizations that offer assistance and support, such as the Christmas Bureau and the local food banks in Arthur and Mount Forest.
Anyone interested in donating to this year’s Warm Winter Wishes campaign can contact Lubbers at emily.lubbers@ugdsb.on.ca or principal Brent Bloch at 519-323-3430 ext. 223 or brent.bloch@ugdsb.on.ca.
