DEH CHO - The kindergarten students taught their older counterparts to never underestimate their opponents during Deh Gah School's annual Christmas food drive.

Kindergarten students at Deh Gah School donated 173 of the more than 400 food items gathered during the annual Christmas food drive. The class includes: back row, from left, Aiden Baptiste and Jillian Williams; middle row: Neizha Walker, Nelson Lacorne Jr., Kathleen Gargan, Helena Landry, Dean Squirrel, Conrad Landry, Danita Minoza and Isaac Bonnetrouge; front row: Tyrell Nadli, Aislyn Farcy and Nikita Perron. - photo courtesy of Deh Gah School

The Fort Providence school challenged each grade to bring in as many non-perishable food items as possible between Dec. 6 to 15. The class that brought in the most food per student was going to be the winner.

"It was a lovely little race to the finish," said Lois Philipp, the school's principal.

On Monday two classes had an average of 4.8 items per student while the kindergarten class was trailing at 4.1. Determined to win, the 19 youngest students at the school brought in 138 food items in one day to raise their average to an impressive 9.6.

The kindergarten class, which wound up winning the challenge, brought in 173 items in total, which helped to raise the school's tally to more than 400 items. The food was given to the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre to be distribued to families in the community, Philipp said.

Two other schools in the Deh Cho also demonstrated the spirit of giving with food drives.

During the last two weeks of classes, Kathy McLeod placed a large box outside the office at Echo Dene School. McLeod, the school's

secretary, has been organizing Christmas food donations for approximately five years.

Both students and community members have been donating items, McLeod said on Dec. 15.

"Hopefully we can make three good boxes out of it for families who need it," she said.

She planned to deliver the food on Dec. 17. She said she loves organizing the project and making people happy during the holidays.

"It's good to see the smiles on their face," McLeod said.

Students at Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson also donated food items as part of a class challenge.

The food drive is a long-standing tradition at the school that concludes a term focused on the theme of caring, said Chris Kingsbury, the school's principal.

The contest reinforces to students the idea of caring for those who need help over the holiday season, Kingsbury said. The gathered food was given to the Deh Cho Friendship Centre for the Christmas hamper program.

Class three, which brought in 123 items, won the contest at Bompas.

Students at the school donated approximately 200 items in total.

Kyra Sanguez, a student in class three, said it's important to share because it's good for the world.

"I wanted other people to have food," Sanguez said.

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