Baskets of love - a Bonnycastle tradition

Students, families and staff at Bonnycastle School are making a difference in their own community. The school’s Baskets of Love program began in 2020 during the days of COVID and has continued and grown ever since.

Teacher leader Lori Bourbonnais says they wanted to support families within the school community who could use a little extra food for their cupboards over the winter holiday.

“All students/families are invited to donate items for the baskets. Grade 4 Leaders help with advertising in the school, collecting donated items and pack the baskets, which are boxes the Grade 4 Library leaders decorate,” says Bourbonnais. 

The people receiving the boxes are usually identified by teachers and the Student Support Teacher, however, some families also make a request through a teacher, student services or the office.

Bonnycastle students who are doing this charitable work say they’re glad to be part of this because the families are in need, and they like the idea of being a huge part of someone’s life by helping them out.

The Grade 4 Library leaders have identified theme days to help ensure the baskets are filled with useful items, such as breakfast items and pantry snacks, canned foods, pasta/rice and toiletries.

“In the past we have created 25 to 35 baskets of love hampers,” says Bourbonnais. “Cash donations are also welcomed and one year one of our high schools donated the proceeds from a bake sale.”

Cash donations can be made at the school office and are used to purchase grocery gift cards to add to the hampers.

Grade 4 Library Leaders

Groups led by the Teacher Librarian and Grade 4 classroom teachers are part of clubs in the library over the lunch hour. They help with the school’s I Love to Read activities and other events. Some of the student leaders do the school’s morning announcements, share information and advertise for Bonnycastle’s Tabs Collection, Terry Fox Run and Baskets of Love. The Grade 4 Library Leaders also organize Spirit Days, help with school-wide activity days (Festival and Play Day) and Social-Emotional activities throughout the year.