Kenora Catholic District School Board

The campaign's inspiration came from a long-standing tradition at STAHS to support the Miracle Marathon, an event that seeks to provide families in need with the essentials for a joyous Christmas. Leadership Class teacher, Bernadette Martin, explained, “We are inspired to help those in our community have the best Christmas season possible. As part of our Catholic faith, we look for opportunities to connect and assist members of our community as often as possible.”

Thanks to the dedication of students and staff across all participating schools, the campaign raised an impressive $1,300 through various fundraising events. These included a movie buy-in, candy-gram sales, a NWOSSAA buy-in, and a Build Your Own Sundae bar. The funds raised were used to purchase toys and canned goods. In total, approximately 560 toys and cans were donated at STAHS, with additional contributions from the board office, St. John Paul II (SJP), St. Louis School (STL), and Ecole Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys (SMB).

In addition to the financial donations, students showcased their creativity with initiatives like the “Merry BINGO” cards. Leadership students designed the cards with suggested donations such as toys, canned goods, and hygiene items. The class that completed the most squares first won a small prize. At SJP, the winning class was treated to a popcorn party, while SMB organized a cereal drive, creating "cereal box dominos" that stretched across the school.

One of the most touching moments of the campaign came when students and staff worked together to load the bus with donations. Martin reflected, “You see the hard work of all our schools come together, and in the end, we are helping so many families in our community.” The excitement and camaraderie were palpable as students spoke on air to support the Miracle Marathon, and the generosity of the KCDSB community truly shone.

To ensure the donations reached those in need, the Leadership Class at STAHS coordinated weekly collections. After sorting and counting the items, they brought the donations to TA to be compiled and loaded onto the bus. Once delivered, the Salvation Army took care of distributing the goods to families in need.

Martin extended her heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the initiative: “A huge thank you to our students, families, and staff who contributed and participated in any way during the 'Fill a Bus' initiative. A special thanks to First Student Bus for donating the bus and driver once again to make this happen, and to OECTA for their generous donation that helped purchase toys.”

This campaign is a true testament to the generosity and collaborative spirit of the KCDSB community. Through their collective efforts, they have made a significant impact on local families, ensuring that many will enjoy a brighter holiday season. The "Fill a Bus" initiative has proven once again that when we come together, we can accomplish incredible things.