Looking to capture the spirit of season? Drop by one of Canyons District’s schools, which are busy collecting food, clothing and monetary donations to bring a little holiday cheer to those in need.
All told, 30 schools have organized charitable campaigns, leveraging the generosity of families in the four cities and three townships within Canyons’ boundaries. Tons of food items have been boxed and shipped to area non-profits. Clothing and gifts have been purchased and wrapped for Sub-for-Santa programs. Thousands of dollars have been raised to support cancer patients, anti-poverty programs, and groups like the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Schools are so often the recipient of volunteerism and philanthropy, and it’s important for children to feel empowered to give back, says Lisa Repp, the head secretary at Silver Mesa, which collected more than 3,000 food items for the Utah Food Bank. “This is really a great effort by our community and the kids love to see the bins fill up.”
Not to be outdone, CSD’s Title I schools, which serve a disproportionate share of low-income students, have banded together to set up a Community Candles of Light free shopping experience for student families in need of holiday gift assistance. Organizers hope to support more than 500 students from 250 families from the Midvale Elementary, Midvale Middle, Copperview Elementary, Sandy Elementary, East Midvale Elementary, Hillcrest High, and Diamond Ridge High communities.
The shopping experience will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14. For anyone interested in supporting the cause, there are three ways to give:
- Donate new clothing and toy items: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4baaaf2da2ff2-holiday
- Contribute monetary donations: https://canyons.successfund.com/communitycandlesoflight
- Volunteer to assist with the holiday shopping experience: https://uw.org/wp-content/uploads/Midvale-Candles-Volunteer-Sign-ups_2019.11.15.pdf
School Holiday Fundraisers
Alta View: fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation
Altara: canned food drive
Bell View: coat drive and clothing and toy exchange
Bella Vista: food and coat drive
Brookwood: raising money to fund vaccinations through the Ouelessebougou Alliance
Copperview: canned food drive in the spring
Crescent: canned food drive benefitting the Utah Food Bank
East Sandy: food drive benefitting the Utah Food Bank
Edgemont: food drive benefitting the Utah Food Bank
Granite: food drive benefitting Utah Food Bank
Lone Peak: collecting pennies for leukemia and lymphoma patients
Midvale: “Community Candles of Light” campaign to combine monetary and in-kind donations benefiting families in the following schools: Midvale Elementary, Midvale Middle, Copperview Elementary, Sandy Elementary, East Midvale Elementary, Hillcrest High, and Diamond Ridge High.
Oak Hollow: book drive
Oakdale: food drive
Park Lane: collecting plush animals with Bank of American Fork for children in crisis
Ridgecrest: winter clothing drive benefitting The Road Home shelter
Silver Mesa: food drive benefitting the Utah Food Bank
Sprucewood: food drive benefitting the Utah Food Bank
Sunrise: food drive benefitting the Utah Food Bank
Willow Canyon: food drive benefitting the Utah Food Bank
Willow Springs: stuff-the-stocking drive benefitting residents of The Road Home shelter
Albion Middle: cereal drive for neighboring elementary school
Draper Park Middle: October sock drive benefitting neighboring elementary schools
Indian Hills Middle: contributing to the Make-A-Wish program
Mount Jordan Middle: canned food drive
Union Middle: Sub-for-Santa drive
Alta: food drive benefitting the Utah Food Bank and collecting donations for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Haw stash (food and clothing pantry)
Brighton: donation drive for Make-A-Wish Foundation
Corner Canyon High: contributing to the Make-A-Wish program
Jordan: donation drive for Boys and Girls Club of Sandy