Thank you with a smile
Kids send cards of thanks to Lions for ongoing generosity
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
NAUJAAT
Students at Tusarvik School were busy making cards to thank a group of old friends this past month.
Francois Alakannuaq and Quentin Tuktudjuk, right, talk about the gifts they received from the Edmonton Lions Club while making thank you cards at Tusarvik School in Naujaat this past month. - photo courtesy of Julia MacPherson |
The Edmonton Lions Club has provided each student at Tusarvik with a Christmas gift for more than a decade.
The club's generosity also includes all preschool children in the community.
Vice-principal Julia MacPherson said the Edmonton Lions Club sent more than 500 gifts to Naujaat youth this past Christmas.
She said the club purchases the gifts and pays to have them transported to Winnipeg from Edmonton.
"Once the gifts are in Winnipeg, Calm Air transports them to Naujaat free of charge," said MacPherson.
"We are very grateful to the Edmonton Lions Club for its generosity and thoughtfulness, both as a school and as a community.
"These Christmas gifts are greatly appreciated by the children, and their arrival is a very exciting time for the community.
"In fact for many children, it's the highlight of their Christmas."
MacPherson has been at Tusarvik for the past four years, and said parents and teachers look forward to the arrival of the gifts almost as much as the students.
She said you see genuine joy in the kids when the gifts are being presented.
"Someone from the Lions phones every year to make sure we got everything.
"They also like to know how the students reacted.
"They're still very involved with our school, and that's great after so many years."
James Alaralak has been receiving a Christmas gift from the Edmonton Lions Club for the past six years and said it's exciting to know a gift is on its way every year.
"I made the Lions Club a card to thank them for all the toys," said Alaralak.
"I hope they keep sending present to Naujaat because it's nice to get a present."
Chrissie Kringayark and Selma Shimout have also been getting gifts from the Edmonton Lions Club for the past six years.
The two girls said they appreciate receiving the gifts very much.
"We wanted to make cards to say thank you to the Edmonton Lions Club because they're really nice to send us gifts and raise money," said Kringayark.
"I think it's great they keep sending us presents for all the students every year," added Shimout."
