Filling Shoe Boxes With Holiday Joy

Students in Fanshawe's Business Foundations program at the Lawrence Kinlin School of Business are making the holidays a bit brighter this year for local children.

They started a Fill-a-Box campaign with a goal of filling as many shoe boxes as possible with age-appropriate toys and items for children from newborn to 15 years of age. In total, an impressive 72 boxes were donated to the Boys and Girls Club of London.

"The campaign began as a result of a College Orientation and Success class in which we were talking about team-building, group work, and social responsibility," says Lynette Carmichael, program coordinator for the Business Foundations program. "As a class activity, the students developed this fundraising idea and a campaign plan for it. It was hugely successful in class, and from there, the students decided to carry out the campaign."

The students canvassed the College, the Lawrence Kinlin School of Business, and small local businesses for donations and contributions. With the cash donations received, they went out and purchased gifts for the boxes.

Nadine Harrison, program manager for children and youth recreation for the Boys and Girls Club of London, says the boxes will be greatly enjoyed by the children on Christmas morning. "We could not put smiles on their faces without the kindness and spirit of people like all of you," she says. "Thank you to the Business students and faculty for their hard work and generosity."