LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Students at Bompas elementary school have gotten into the Christmas spirit by helping those less fortunate.

For two weeks students in every class brought non-perishable food items to the school to donate to the Deh Cho Friendship Centre.

Bryce Hardisty-Phillips, left, and Ariah-Raine Thomas sit among the non-perishable food items that students at Bompas elementary school donated to the Deh Cho Friendship Centre. The students arranged the food to make a Christmas tree and a snowman before donating it. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"It's part of our safe, caring team, " said Chris Kingsbury, the school's principal.

After raising money as a school to furnish a classroom through World Vision earlier in the year, the students turned their sights on helping those closer to home, Kingsbury said.

Students have donated food for a number of years but this time they tried something a little different. On Dec. 14 a special assembly was held where students arranged the food into the shape of a Christmas tree and a snowman on the floor of the gym before donating it. The designs let the students see just how much food they'd gathered, said Kingsbury

The food will be used in the Christmas hamper program run by the Deh Cho Friendship Centre.

"Every little bit helps," said Aaron McNab, the executive director for the centre.

The hamper program has been running for a number of years and provides the basics for a Christmas dinner plus a few extras, McNab said.

The centre tries to put together approximately 80 hampers a year with 116 being the highest number McNab can remember making. The hampers are given out on a request basis, with people filling out application forms, and are also given to a number of elders and people living in the Stanley Isaiah Supportive Living Units.

Eligibility is based on more than income. Some large families where both parents work need assistance, McNab said.

"Many can't afford to do the whole Christmas without some kind of help," he said.

Providing both presents and a special dinner can be a struggle for some families, he said.

"Having that bit of extra helps," said McNab.

To put together the hampers, every year the centre receives 40 turkeys and a number of dinner extras from the Salvation Army in Yellowknife. The centre then uses donations from local businesses and agencies to place an order at the Northern store for more supplies. People in the village are very generous, he said.

"I'd like to thank them all for their donations. Every one is appreciated both by the staff and people who receive the donations," said McNab.

Staff, program participants and youth volunteers help put the hampers together out of the supplies. McNab expected staff to start assembling the hampers on Dec. 15 and have them all delivered by Dec. 20.

Some community members volunteer to help deliver the hampers.

"I like doing it. I know a lot of other people like it too," said McNab about making the deliveries.

Sometimes the delivery people have to be creative when locating the people the hampers are designated for. In some cases you have to know where to find the person, drive them home with the hamper and then take them back to where you found them, said McNab.

Overall the effort is worth it, he said.

"Some are quite appreciative," McNab said.