6 days ago
Swift News
The Christmas tree at the Fort St. John, B.C., hospital is a little warmer this season, thanks to a group of Grade 2 students from Anne Roberts Young Elementary.
About 30 students recently bundled up against the cold and made the short walk across the street to hang ornaments — tiny, handmade yarn toques — on the hospital's Angel Tree.
Helping decorate the tree has become a tradition since the school opened in 2020.
"Just our way of giving back to the hospital that's right next to our lovely school,” said teacher Lori Wigglesworth.
With help from teachers and educational assistants, the students chose their own colours and learned how to loop and tie the yarn into cozy ornaments, Wigglesworth said.
“It's a really big deal for them to see a space, a community space, outside of our school, and just the idea of giving back to the community and others, especially at Christmas time,” said teacher Anna Kursteiner.
The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation welcomed the students and explained how the tree is a centrepiece of its annual Be An Angel campaign, which encourages people to make donations in memory of a loved one during the holidays and raise money for new medical equipment.
The tree, she said, brings holiday cheer to those using the hospital over Christmas.
“The inpatient unit typically is full as well as everybody coming in for their lab work, and the hospital shouldn't be excluded from the Christmas season,” said outgoing executive director Kelly Amboe.