The holiday season is upon us and the tradition of service is well underway at Ridley.  Students and staff have been busy finishing their Christmas giving projects before they leave the campus to return home for the holidays.
Arthur Bishop East is raising funds for “Wells of Hope”. So far they have raised approximately $200 selling snacks at the intermission of “The Crucible,” and $500 at the Christmas Market.

The boys of Arthur Bishop West were raising money by providing $5 haircuts at the Christmas Market.  The funds raised are going to Mainstream – an organization that provides a range of services to community members with developmental challenges.

Burgoyne House focused on their mascot, the bear, this year for their charity drive.  Teddy bears of all sorts – for infants, toddlers and older children- will be given to children at the St. Catharines General Hospital.

The Dean’s House charity is the “Gift of Reading,” an organization that raises funds to buy books for less fortunate children and families. At the Christmas Market, they held a raffle and raised $200.

Gooderham West raised $136 raffling off 3 gingerbread houses at the Christmas Market.  Instead of buying secret Santa gifts this year, each girl donated $10, which has been given to Community Care to buy Christmas Dinner for families in need.  In total the girls’ raised $566.00 for Community Care.
Gooderham East filled 90 shoeboxes with toiletries, school supplies and toys for “Operation Christmas Child”. These boxes will make their way to deserving children all over the world.
Leonard House partnered with Mandeville in collecting food for Community Care during “Halloween for Hunger” and sending representatives to “Me to We” in Toronto.

Mandeville and Leonard House collected 1,540 lbs of food for the “Halloween for Hunger” food drive. The girls recently raised just over $600 by having a dress down day and selling handmade beaded bracelets from Africa (donated by a Ridley Family) and Christmas gift bags (donated from a past parent) at the Christmas Market.

Merritt South raised $900 for Dog Guides Canada, primarily from the John Gardhouse Comedy Night sponsored by the house.

Merritt North’s House Charity is Community Care. Every year the MNo boys set up and serve food provided by the House at an “Out of the Cold” dinner downtown for 170 guests. This year, they are hosting the dinner on Friday, January 7th at 53 Church Street. The boys also sell toques to support the national “Raise the Roof” campaign sponsored by Community Care which benefits homeless youth. The annual MNo “Toque Thursday” grub day at Ridley is scheduled for February 3rd, 2011.

Day students at Lower School collected non-perishable food for Community Care this past month and delivered it during their recent radio performance supporting this need.

The Advancement Office gave a donation to the United Way of St. Catharines and the Business Office donated to Community Care in lieu of their annual Secret Santa gift exchange.

The Memorial Chapel through the recent Nine Lessons and Carol service and other events, as well as donations by parents, raised $7,249 for the Missionaries of the Poor in Jamaica and collected food for the local Community Care organization.

The Christmas spirit is alive and well at Ridley College!