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Recipe for happiness

Student council bakes up a tray of smiles for local elders

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services


Rankin Inlet (Jan 15/03) - Members of the Alaittuq High Student Council in Rankin Inlet baked up their own personal brand of Christmas spirit during the holidays.

The students launched the first Baked Goodies for Elders program this year.

Alaittuq High teacher and student council advisor Simone Clark says council members came up with a list of things they wanted to accomplish this school year at the beginning of the semester.

The Baked Goodies for Elders program was one undertaking council decided would help it "connect" with the community.

About 10 council members spent a day at Clark's residence baking from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

"Once all the goodies were baked, we wrapped them up and got them ready for the big day," says Clark.

"Then we froze them until we were ready to make our deliveries on Dec. 15.

"All together, we had 55 little trays of goodies ready to go."

There are 21 students involved with the council, and Clark says just about everyone was involved with the project in one way or another.

"Those who didn't bake helped deliver or put the name tags on, those types of things.

"So, most council members had helped out by the time the goodies were delivered to the elders."

The council members received a lot of thanks and big smiles from the elders.

Clark says some of the students even received a big hug when they dropped off their goodies.

"The elders were happy to receive them and that made the program really feel special."

Student council also prepared Christmas hampers for two local families this year.

Clark says the students decided they really wanted to do what they could to make a difference this holiday season.

She says the school usually donates food items to the RCMP's annual Christmas Hamper Drive, but a change of plan was called for when they decided to go with gift certificates this year instead.

"Kids brought some of the items to the school to donate, and we also held a dance on Dec. 13 to help with the hampers.

"Admission to the dance was $3, but anyone who brought a food item only paid $2 to get in."