Photo: Contributed

Alexis Park Elementary School is supporting 16 families with food hampers and household items.

Santa has set up shop at Alexis Park Elementary School in Vernon.

The school is supporting 16 families with food hampers and household items thanks to the donations of students, staff and community members.

“The support we have received from the community at large has been amazing,” said Mike Sutch, school principal.

“We had a generous donation of hams from a community member who is very important to our school family. Okanagan Restoration also donated a good supply of pasta and toilet paper.”

In addition to the hampers, invited families will be able to take some of the extra food donations the school received.

And the giving continued with the opening of Santa’s Store where students could purchase gifts for family members.

Located in the school gymnasium, tables were set up by category: mom gifts, dad gifts, jewellery, clothing and general gifts.

Students came with their loonies, toonies or canned food donation to purchase gifts for their family members.

Money raised from Santa’s Store will go towards the Grade 6 and 7 year end field trip to Eagle Bay Camp.

Donations of the various gift items came from teachers and members of the community.

“We are very thankful for all the donations we have received,” said Sutch. “This means so much to our students. They’ll have food over the winter break and presents under the tree. From a school community perspective, our students get to see how a simple act of a food donation can help support others in need. We look forward to continuing with the theme of giving for the remainder of the school year.”