LAC LA BICHE - Each year, just before Christmas, students from JA Williams (JAWS) High School in Lac La Biche help collect food donations for local food banks by filling police cruisers through the ‘JAWS Cruisin’ for Christmas’ fundraiser.
This year’s event is set to take place on Dec. 19 at Brittons Your Independent Grocer from 12:30-7 p.m.
According to Wade Coutney, a teacher at JAWS who assists students with the initiative, the goal this year is to surpass last year’s drive, which filled an impressive quantity of groceries into local police vehicles and $1,413 in cash donations for those in need.
Last year’s Cruisin’ event saw $630 raised by JAWS student services through popcorn and hot chocolate sales. Another $780 was raised from shoppers who purchased pre-packaged food hampers, which were ordered and delivered to local food banks.
“We successfully filled three police cruisers with grocery donations, which students then delivered to both Portage College and Out of The Elements Homeless Shelter,” Coutney told Lakeland This Week.
This year, JAWS students will be in and out of Britton’s Your Independent for six and a half hours, gathering food donations from inside the grocery store and delivering them to Lac La Biche County Enforcement Services vehicles and RCMP cruisers parked outside. Monetary contributions by shoppers can also be made at the grocery store checkout counters.
The fund and food-raising event will have a backdrop of festive, seasonal music performed by more students from the local high school. Coutney hopes the music will keep shoppers in a giving mood.
“Additionally, JAWS music students will perform Christmas carols in the store, along with community members and other volunteers,” Coutney said, explaining that a Christmas art contest has also been organized for local schools through the JAWS art program, and the winning artwork will be displayed in the store.
The Cruisin’ event not only turns JAWS students into Santa’s helpers, but it also serves to educate students looking for work-placement ideas and options. Coutney explains that the fundraiser evolved from school curriculum that offered students the opportunity to job shadow grocery store employees. Over the years, the job-shadow has grown to include the fundraiser.
“Although it began as a school initiative, it has evolved into a significant support resource for local shelters,” he stated. “We are pleased to facilitate student involvement in any way we can.”