SHOUT OUT - Osgoode Township Highschool Leadership Class

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Way to go! I know it's a little late for a Christmas story but I found one. The kids showed true leadership in recognizing that Christmas (I don't celebrate as I am not a Christian) is more than what is under the tree.

I used to have a tree with presents under it for my kids when they were small but stopped the practice a few years back as they aged out of their teens. Although we had a tree and participated in the holidays - because we were not Christian I always asked that my kids (and I) do something or give something somewhere. There are always people or families who could use extra supports ALL year but holidays are tough on some because the "Joneses" insist that if you don't have a tree with lots of presents and bling - then you're not a good parent or Christian.

So...to ALL of you who thought of others and did something to ease the way for someone else this holiday season A BIG APPLAUSE! YAHOOOOO! YOU ROCK!



Students help to feed street kids


Students help to feed street kids


By M.J. Deschamps, The Ottawa CitizenJanuary 2, 2010 5:06 AM



When high school principal Brett Reynolds heard that the person who usually sponsors Operation Come Home's annual Christmas dinner for youth living on the street would not be able to do so this year, he challenged his students to come up with a fundraising campaign.

Members of the Leadership class at Osgoode Township High School were already working on ways to send a community message of gratitude to Canadian troops in Afghanistan in time for Christmas.

So they put the two campaigns together.

As a result, a postcard campaign raised $1,000 for Operation Come Home and over 2,000 messages of care and support were sent to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

For student Susan Hart, the Afghanistan initiative was particularly gratifying. Both her dad and brother have done tours of duty in Afghanistan.

"Living in Osgoode, we don't have a lot of contact with or awareness about street kids, so I thought it would be a good experience for the students," said Reynolds.

"When they heard about these kids who were just like them who wouldn't be home for the holidays, they became determined to make sure they would have a Christmas dinner."

While Operation Come Home estimated that $500 would cover the cost of the dinner, the students ended up raising double that. The extra money will assist in buying ongoing supplies for the organization's breakfast program.
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