GORE BAY—The Grade 3-4 class at Charles C. McLean Public School are going to make a large group of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Christmas holidays a little brighter by sending each a large shoebox full of treats and items as a “Merry Christmas from Manitoulin/Happy Holidays from the Haweaters.”
“This year we are sending treats to 19 CAF members who will be spending the holidays far from their homes and families,” said teacher Heather Jefkins.
“This is the 18th year my class and I have adopted deployed CAF members,” said Ms. Jefkins. “I first started what I call “Op Troop Support” in 2006, and my Grade 7 and 8 students shipped 75 shoeboxes to troops deployed with OP Medusa in Afghanistan. We continued shipping boxes to CAF members serving in Afghanistan until 2011. In 2012, we started supporting soldiers at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Over the years we have supported members working with OP Calumet (Egypt), OP Soprano (South Sudan), Op Impact (Middle East), OP Reassurance (Europe), OP Unifier (Europe) and CFS Alert (Canada’s High Arctic), as well as a variety of Royal Canadian Navy Ships on patrol across the world.
Each of the packages has two letters in it, one from a student and a second from Ms. Jefkins on behalf of the class, stating “Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays from Manitoulin Island! Please find enclosed in your box an assortment of goodies. I hope some of the items are treats you might be wishing for this holiday season, as you find yourself away from your homes and families. My students and their families donated many of the items you see. If you happen to find a bottle of maple syrup from Island View Farms in your box, it was donated by Verna and Peter Tallman. The Manitoulin Coffee Company, a local business started by one of my former students, Brianna Deschamps, donated the bag of coffee in your box.”
It was further explained in Ms. Jefkins’ letter, “We also had financial support from the C.C. McLean staff, several community members, Lyons Memorial United Church and the Lyons Memorial United Church Women (UCW) group, which allowed us to purchase extra treats. All of this support has allowed us to make sure the boxes are full and ready for sharing, too!”
“You are one of 19 CAF members who have been officially adopted by the members of my Grade 3-4 class. They have worked hard to create cards and artwork that you might hang up to bring you a touch of “Kids from Home.” I hope you enjoy their efforts,” wrote Ms. Jefkins. “They range in age from 7-9 and have all the enthusiasm of that age group.”
“This is the 18th year my class and I have adopted a group of CAF members working far from home,” continued Ms. Jefkins. “I think the work you have chosen to do is amazing. I have great respect for all who serve. You are our second project this year with military connections, the first being a project with CAF members based across Canada, which I call Op Flat Stanley.”
“I feel very strongly about supporting Canadian Forces members, both those at home and those deployed to both combat, NATO and UN Missions. From our little Island to where you are in the world, please know that we are wishing you a Merry Christmas/Happy Holiday and a safe and happy new year. We appreciate the work you are doing so far away from home and family,” wrote Ms. Jefkins. She explained, “I am trying hard to educate my students about the role of the CAF and the sacrifices that both the serving members make, as well as the sacrifices their families make when they are far away. Thank you for choosing to serve, you play such a very important role in our world.
Ms. Jefkins stressed, “I would like to point out that we couldn’t have done this project without the support of our community over the last 18 years. No matter what I have asked for (treats, financial donations, caps from Manitoulin Transport, soccer balls from BMO, toothbrushes and toothpaste from local dentists, boxes for packing the treats or even extra hands to help pack boxes, our Island communities have always stepped up and helped. Some years I have had to kneel on the boxes to get the lids to close because they were so full of treats!”
“Over the years, several hundred Canadian Armed Forces personnel have benefited from the generosity of Islanders, when they are serving far away from home and country, sometimes in dangerous locations,” said Ms. Jefkins. “The feedback I have received from the recipients always says how much they have enjoyed the treats, and often how they have chosen to share them with their colleagues because the boxes are so full. One year, a group of soldiers even decided to share their maple syrup at a joint breakfast with other UN Peacekeepers from around the world, some of whom had never tasted it before.”
“This year, a former recipient sent me an email providing me with the names of eight Canadians working at UNMISS in South Sudan and asked if my ‘team of elves could do their magic’ to ensure each of them got a package. Each of these Canadians working through the United Nations will be getting a package, because thanks to the Island community, my elves have lots of magic to work with again this year,” added Ms. Jefkins.
Along with providing treats and items for CAF members, some of the subjects that the students have covered with the project this year include global citizenship, art, math and literacy (including cursive writing).
