Students from Waimea College, Briea Anderson, Sammy Daubney and Mackenzie Taylor, have decided to share their festive spirit and are raffling off two giant hampers to raise money to buy Christmas presents for patients who will be spending time in the Nelson Hospital Children’s Ward over the festive period.
The project is part of an enrichment study the year 9 students are doing to help people in the community.
Briea says it’s not just about people receiving gifts.
“We wanted to help the community by donating Christmas presents to the Nelson Hospital Children’s Ward.
“We will be buying a range of gifts for newborns through to 16 year olds.
“And we have asked the hospital that the gifts be given out not just on Christmas day, but around the holiday season.”
There are two baskets to be won, and 10 spot prizes, and the girls say the hampers are filled with restaurant vouchers, luxury foods, body products, activity vouchers and much more.
“It’s a package for the whole family.”
Mackenzie says the support they have received from everyone – teachers, parents and businesses – has been amazing.
“We wrote letters and emails and called local businesses explaining what we were hoping to do and the response was awesome.”
Briea’s mum Jo Stevens says the girls have spent hours going around the local businesses asking for donations of items to include in the hampers
“The raffle has been so well supported so far and the girls just keep on going!
“Not only are these teenage girls doing an amzing thing, the support for this by the local community has been phenomenal!”
Tickets are available through the school by emailing mstaylor@waimea.school.nz.
The raffle is to be drawn on December 12, by a staff member at the Nelson Hospital Children’s ward.
Mackenzie says the winners will be notified through the contact details the girls have been provided with.
Cost of the raffle is $2 for one ticket or $5 for three.
The girls are all in agreement they enjoyed the whole learning process and that they would love to do it all over again next year.
“It has been a bit stressful getting everything organised,” says Briea.
“But it has all come together and it has been a great process for us.
“I would never have imagined we would do all of this, and have achieved as much as we have, it has been a lot of fun.
The outcome is a great thing.”