Jared Devers talks to students at St. Catherine's School Thursday. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Season of giving

Local service club spreading the warmth

Dec 20, 2019 | 12:38 PM

The Prince Albert Kinsmen Club is trying to help kids stay warm this winter.

On Thursday, members from the club visited St. John’s, St. Catherine’s, John Diefenbaker and King George schools to hand out mitts, toques, and scarves.

Jared Devers, who took the lead in putting together the clothing drive, explained the club made the decision to gift kids winter clothes after reaching out to people at the schools.

“The social workers and principals thought that actually, most of these kids don’t come to school with warm toques, mittens, scarves, so we decided we would supply them with that,” he said.

Kids high five some of the Kinsmen after getting their clothes at St. Catherine’s School. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

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In total the Kinsmen had over 500 mitts, toques and scarves to hand out Thursday. The club wrapped the clothing up with wrapping paper donated by Malcom Jenkins and Canadian Tire. Devers said the club went right to a supplier to get the clothing.

“We actually get our stuff from a supplier, a Canadian company out of Montreal, so we basically get everything at cost,” he said.

This is the third year the club has handed out clothing. Roy Feschuk, principal at John Diefenbaker Public School, said staff always appreciate getting help from outside groups which allow them to do more for their families.

“It’s like a parachuted gift, and it’s just fabulous to have that come in,” he said.

So far this year, the school partnered with an outside group to do a coat drive to also help kids and families.

Kinsmen cover the wrapped clothes before kids come into the gym at John Diefenbaker School. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

Gisele Stalwick, principal at St. Catherine’s School, said they appreciate getting support from the Kinsmen Club. She added the club’s donation helps show students the spirit of giving is still prominent in the greater community.

“For some of our students, it’s really important for them to feel that love,” she said.

Stalwick explained they made sure to keep the club’s visit under wraps so the kids at the school were taken by surprise Thursday morning.

“We kept it a secret so it would be more like the morning of Christmas,” she said.

Kids at John Diefenbaker School wait to get their gifts. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn