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More KDSS students out collecting toys and food this year By Liz Dadson |
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 Ashlee Banyard (R) and her team, Hayley Stewart (L), Katelyn Reid, and A.J. Adams, won the prize for the best-decorated vehicle at the Kincardine District Secondary School Christmas Knights toy and food drive held Saturday morning  Sandy Banyard (R), with her friends, Gloria Kuchinski (L) and Cindy Emmerton, were busy in the Canadian Tire garage Friday night, decorating the Banyard van as a surprise for Ashlee - the Grade 12 student is going to university next fall so this would be her final Christmas Knights event Saturday | ||||
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More than 140 students from Kincardine District Secondary School joined in the annual Christmas Knights food and toy drive Saturday morning, an increase over last year. And it's a good thing, too, because there are more Christmas hampers to be filled this year as well. The teams of students and their volunteer drivers were sent on 28 routes, gathering non-perishable food, new toys, gifts and clothing, from residents as far south as Concession 10 in Huron-Kinloss, and north as far as Lorne Beach Road. They brought the vehicle-loads back to St. Anthony's Church basement, headquarters for the annual Christmas hamper program, operated by Kincardine Community Services. Inside, about 30 volunteers were sorting the items, and getting them prepared for packing the hampers next week. Anne Gibson, co-ordinator of the hamper program, said it is a great boost of enthusiasm and encouragement to have the students involved in gathering the food and toys, and sorting the items. It's been 14 years since the Christmas Knights first began and it has certainly helped fill the hampers. This year, the demand for hampers is up - to 129 from 108 last year. They range from hampers for single people, all the way up to families with five or more children. Gibson said the monetary donations go toward grocery store vouchers for people to purchase turkeys, as well as for baby items and clothing to put in the hampers. Fresh and canned hams are donated, and many people give gift cards for adults and teens. Hats and mittens come in through various mitten trees throughout Kincardine. All the non-perishable food, toys, gifts and clothing will be sorted next week, and hampers packed by Thursday afternoon for pick-up Friday. Any leftover food and items will go to the Kincardine Food Bank and other organizations, said Gibson. "We try to keep as much as possible in the community." She noted that often the food drive brings in items that have passed their expiry date. She urges people to check the expiry date before donating anything, because if the product has expired, it cannot be used and must be thrown out.
Volunteers Richard Yun (L), Andy Burgess and Joyce Vanderhorst sort canned goods and packages of food in the basement of St. Anthony's Church
Standing with their decorated vehicle, are Eline Gutter (L), Mitchell Walker, Daniel Mahood and Alex Pagnan
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 Organizers of this year's Christmas Knights event are Kortney Watson (L), Amy Nagus, Mackenzie Marshall and staff advisor Lisa Connolly  Volunteers Brian Watt (L), John Binnendyk and Andy Burgess sort food brought in by the Christmas Knights  Volunteers Carm Papalia (L) and Judy Hannivan hold up some infant hat and mitt sets that were donated to the Christmas hamper program Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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