Toys and books collected by school

The students of MC Knoll School this month collected nearly 2,000 used toys and books for children in need.

On January 9, volunteers from the school's two Grade 6 classes bundled up 1,927 toys and books donated by themselves and their fellow students and shipped them off to Yorkton's Shelwin House.

Shelwin House is a local non-profit that provides short-term shelter to women and children escaping abusive situations.

"So often the people, when they think about the shelter, the concentration is on the women and getting the dishes and all the things that people need in their house," said LaVern Dumka, director of Shelwin House. "People forget the children are moving into a home where they have no toys or anything."

In the fall, MC Knoll teacher Mark Schendel heard about a shortage of toys at the shelter. After the Christmas break, he enlisted his Grade 6 students to lead a school-wide toy and book drive.

"We'd tell it over the announcements, and then we sent a newsletter home," explained Grade 6 volunteer Jenna Senchuk.

"We get all these toys at Christmas and the older toys we get we just put to the side and we don't use, so it's a good cause to give them to other people that can't afford it," said classmate Matthew Mandziuk.

In just three days, the school had enough donated items to pack a classroom.

"We just went through our basements, our bedrooms, our drawers," said Mandziuk.

"It makes me feel really good," added Senchuk, "because if we're not using the toys then we could be giving them to someone else to use."

MC Knoll held a similar donation campaign about six years ago. The students hope to take part in causes such as this one more often.

Most of the toys will go directly to families moving into Shelwin House, who often reach the shelter with little more than a suitcase full of clothes. The organization also hopes to set up a dedicated toy room at the shelter.

"We're overwhelmed," said Dumka.

"In three days, this is just phenomenal."