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Photos: Port Moody students get Christmas 'cracking' for seniors

Hundreds of students at Port Moody's Aspenwood Elementary got into the holiday spirit by helping to stuff crackers for Christmas dinner at seniors homes around the Lower Mainland.
Janis Cleugh
Janis Cleugh

With long tables set up in the gym, separated by bins of donated Halloween candy, hundreds of staff, parents and students at Port Moody’s Aspenwood Elementary joined the school’s annual Christmas Cracker Day today, Nov. 20.

Started 25 years ago at Kilmer Elementary in Port Coquitlam by teacher Anne Kirkhope, along with School District 43 educator Carol Todd, the leadership drive sees students hand over their Halloween treats, as well as write notes and draw pictures, for 1,000 crackers that will go to seniors homes in Metro Vancouver.

For many elderly people receiving the handmade crackers at their Christmas meal, it may be the only gift they get, Kirkhope told the Tri-City News.

Todd, who was at this morning’s crafting session, said the parents act as quality control as the candy and items are packaged into toilet paper rolls; the school’s Parent Advisory Committee buys the snappers, while students and parents also give and cut paper and ribbon for the crackers.

Kirkhope said the project falls under the Aspenwood Cares umbrella, a program designed for community outreach.

Some Aspenwood students who have since progressed to middle schools in the district returned for the annual gathering to be part of holiday campaign and to oversee the work by the younger grades.

“Every year just get bigger and better,” Kirkhope said while surveying the room.

“The kids are enthusiastic and everyone is involved, kindergarten to Grade 5.”

Grade 4 student Evelyn said it was her first time at Cracker Day and “I was very happy to give my Halloween candy to the seniors,” the nine-year-old said.

And Grade 5 student Saisha, age 10, said she’s OK with donating her candy for the second year.

“I’m helping other people,” she said. “I like doing fun things.”

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