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Anti-bullying campaign helping stuff stockings

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An annual campaign at a local high school to discourage bullying is helping buy Christmas comforts for Sarnia families this year.

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The goal is to purchase gifts for two to three families in need with nearly $3,000 raised in part by selling anti-bullying T-shirts recently at Great Lakes secondary, said Bradon Burnham, whose Grade 12 leadership class is behind the initiative.

“We literally take a class trip to their front door and we knock on their door and we sing a Merry Christmas, and we kind of meet the kids and deliver the gifts, which I think is really neat for my guys to see,” Burnham said.

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The campaign started at what was formerly Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School about six years ago to create T-shirts to raise money and awareness, he said.

For the past four years, families have been selected as beneficiaries and the funds have gone to buying essentials such as clothes and groceries, as well as toys for youngsters, Burnham said.

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This year, a record 500 shirts were sold, he said, noting Sarnia police, fire and Great Lakes staff and students were among the buyers.

Students design the shirts and take to social media to make sales, he said, noting a barbecue was also held to raise some of the funds.

Families are selected via co-ordination with organizations such as the Inn of the Good Shepherd, the Women’s Interval Home, and St. Clair Child and Youth Services, he said.

The latter has a list of about 200 youngsters in need, confirmed St. Clair operations director Craig McKenzie.

“Every year, our clinicians identify clients that could use a little bit more over the holidays,” he said, noting the organization tries to support families throughout the year too when it comes to things such as buying groceries.

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Donations are accepted, he said, noting the agency was the recent target of a break-in.

Around the holidays, “we like to (do) a little bit more,” he said.

The two-week T-shirt campaign, meanwhile, starts during Ontario Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week in November, Burnham said.

One family has been selected so far and another is close to being confirmed, he said.

“Next week, we’re going to go out and purchase the gifts.”

The 24-student class also does the wrapping, he said.

The hope is to make the fundraiser even bigger next year, he said, noting the leadership class is heavily involved in community volunteering.

“It’s a really good way for my guys to kind of give back to their community,” he said, “and I think they get out of it as much as the families that we help.”

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