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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Llamas, oxen, fish, warm blankets and hot meals are just a few of the items on the Christmas wish list for students at Thomas Simpson school.

The items aren't things that the students want for themselves, but gifts they hope to give others. For the third year in a row the student body is supporting an initiative by Samaritan's Purse, an international relief organization.

Members of the Thomas Simpson school's student council Amanda Burrill, left, Shelagh Byatt and Ramona Menicoche cluster around a computer displaying the website for Samaritan's Purse, a relief organization students are raising money to support. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Last year students raised $2,500. With the money students purchased items from Samaritan's Purse gift catalogue including animals, food, medical care, fresh water and educational tools, which the organization then distributed in developing areas around the world. This year the school hopes to surpass that amount, said Shelagh Byatt, the president of the TSS student council.

The student council is spearheading the effort that will see students make personal donations as well as seek contributions from family, friends and community members.

"We're just hoping that people will contribute," Byatt said.

Last year Byatt and Amanda Burrill, who's currently the secretary and treasurer for the student council, each personally contributed $175, allowing them to buy an ox.

The ox can support a whole community and was definitely a worthwhile item to spend money on, she said.

"It makes me feel worthwhile as a person to help people live their lives," said Byatt.

The fundraising effort is done as a Christmas campaign by the school. The student council doesn't spend a lot of time discussing the ethical reasons for why we should raise the money, said Ramona Menicoche, the council's vice-president.

"We have a lot, they have a little," said Menicoche.

"We just know they need help and we can help them."

Students will be collecting money until Dec. 18. There are also plans for other fundraising events, including a student versus teacher basketball game, a bake sale and a cakewalk.

Thomas Simpson school has a history of supporting Samaritan's Purse.

Before becoming part of the gift program the school spent approximately seven years participating in Operation Christmas Child. The Samaritan's Purse program involves filling gift boxes with clothes, small toys and other fun items which are distributed to children in third world countries.

"The community was very supportive of the shoe boxes," said school principal Robert Byatt.

Students filled up to 400 boxes some years.

The school decided to switch programs after considering a number of issues, including environmental ones related to the fact many of the toys being put in the boxes were made in China and had been transported all the way here only to be sent back. With the gift program if you send money for a goat, for example, Samaritan's Purse buys it in the local area, which supports the residents, said Byatt.

"It makes a lot of sense to us," Byatt said.