Seniors send gifts to Grade 8 students in Pik

Grade 8 students in Pikangikum will be receiving extra Christmas presents this year, thanks to a group of seniors in Thunder Bay.
“We know the kids up there just can’t run off to Walmart or Canadian Tire to pick up something for Christmas,” said Pat Kruger, one of the seniors at Dawson Court Home for the Aged who gathered and bought presents for the students over the past month. “We can, so I think it is our job, our responsibility to help them out and every little bit helps. If it makes for a better Christmas for them, it’s better for us too.”
The presents include sports equipment, artist kits, hats and mitts, skidoo mitts, slippers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, groceries and knickknacks.
“About the only thing we didn’t get was right-handed hockey sticks,” Kruger said. “But we’re not going to give up hope on that because hockey is probably the big thing they love to do.”
The seniors bought 10 professional artist kits on sale at Michaels arts and crafts store in Thunder Bay for the students who are more inclined to do art.
“A lot of the kids are very talented when it comes to art, but it’s kind of hard if you don’t have the equipment,” Kruger said, noting artist kits contain pastels, paints, markers, pencils and chalk. “That wasn’t on their wish list but it’s going in. Depending on what their area is for art, there is something for everybody.”
The seniors held a penny auction to raise money to buy gifts and ship the gifts up to Pikangikum.
“I made over 300 items for a penny auction,” Kruger said. “Hopefully we make enough for the airfare to ship everything up there.”
The seniors first thought of donating to a family, but they soon realized it would be better to donate to the Grade 8 class so a larger portion of the community would benefit from the presents.
Once they decided on the Grade 8 class, they contacted the school and asked for gift suggestions from the students, who are about 13-14 years old.
“All they wanted was winter wear, such as gloves, hats and mitts,” said Caroline Cameron-Fikis, a supervisor at Dawson Court. “And they wanted some sports equipment; apparently, they have a playground but they didn’t have equipment.”
Kruger was impressed with the students’ requests because most youth at that age are into laptops, iPads and cellphones.
“I was impressed with their requests because it was sports equipment, basket balls, tennis balls, mitts and hats,” Kruger said.
Kruger welcomed the students and their parents to visit her and the other seniors at Dawson Court whenever they travel to Thunder Bay.
“We’re issuing them an invitation,” Kruger said. “If you do come to Thunder Bay, or your parents come to Thunder Bay, come to Dawson Court and introduce yourself.”