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DEH CHO - In schools around the Deh Cho students are getting into the Christmas spirit and practising the idea that it's better to give than to receive.

At the Echo Dene school in Fort Liard students and staff have been steadily placing donated food items in a large box.

Students from Classes 3 and 5 at Bompas elementary school sit in and stand around a giant snowman made from all of the non-perishable food items that students donated. - photo courtesy of Berni Leader

"It's getting filled. It's looking good," said Victor Dikaitis, the school's principal.

The cardboard box outside of the school's office is nearly full of cans and dry goods. On the last day of school the collected items will be distributed to families who need the extra support, Dikaitis said.

Donating food items is something that students and staff do voluntarily.

"It's been going well this year," he said.

Students at Bompas elementary school in Fort Simpson also collected non-perishable food, but in a different way.

At Bompas the Christmas food drive is run as a contest. Each grade was pitted against each other as students spent a week from Dec. 8 to 12 bringing in as many food items as possible.

For each item they donated, the student had their name entered into a draw for a helicopter ride. Each item also brought their class one step closer to winning bragging rights in the school.

On Dec. 12, all of the food items were counted and the winners, Class 3 and 5 with 119 items each, were announced during a special assembly.

In total, all of the classes donated approximately 460 items, said Chris Kingsbury, the school's principal.

A representative from the Deh Cho Friendship Centre was at the assembly to thank the students and accept the food donations for the centre's Christmas hamper program.

Every student understands the food will support families in need over the Christmas holidays, said Kingsbury. For the school the food drive is also a way of fulfilling their motto of being a safe, caring team.

"It's part of being part of the community," Kingsbury said.

Deh Gah school in Fort Providence is also collecting food items from parents, staff and students, but this year the school is going to take giving one step further.

Every year all of the students at the school, as well as all children in the community ranging from newborns to pre-schoolers, receive a present from the District Education Authority.

The younger students usually get a toy while the student older than 14 receive a gift certificate for the Northern Store, said Lois Philipp, the school's principal.

At the Santa luncheon on Dec. 18, the older students in Grades 9 to 12 will be given the option to donate their present. The students can identify people in the community who don't have much who could use the gift certificate or they can donate the money to World Vision, Philipp said.

By demonstrating to students how easily they can make a difference it will help them make that choice again in the future, Philipp said. The choice will also help underline the meaning of Christmas.

"The spirit of Christmas is giving to those less fortunate and spending time with family and friends," she said.