There’s a force at work in the community that is far stronger than one might guess. It’s kids. Kids who care about making a difference in the lives of others.

They come together under the name of DSAC – District Student Advisory Council – and they take on all sorts of activities.

Their most recent venture has been to raise money in the Coins for Kids fundraiser, which sees all of the cash raised donated to the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society.

“Coins for Kids has been done for years,” 12th-grader Lauren Zink of Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary said at the coin counting event Tuesday.

Zink was surrounded by youth of varying ages, a few adults, and a lot of coins.

The group was set up with tables and coin wrappers at the Albion fairgrounds (home to the hamper society) to have a coin-wrapping party – of sorts.

There were two to five kids from every school in the district, except one. Obviously it was noisy.

Each elementary and secondary school has its own small group of DSAC representatives. According to Garibaldi Grade 11 student Gabrielle Lalande, teachers and faculty recommend which students can participate.

Together, all the DSAC representatives come together to talk about their activities for the year, including things like Coins for Kids.

The objective is to raise funds in the form of coins and each school participates in a way that makes sense for its students and staff. The Christmas hamper society provides a large jar to each school in which to deposit their hard earned money.

Glenwood Elementary sold CandioGrams.

“They have sold 120 so far and are selling them for 50 cents each,” said DSAC co-chair Jenna Crews. “They have also made bookmarks they are selling at their Christmas concert.”

Edith McDermott Elementary held a Winter Woolly pajama day on Monday where participants donated a quarter. The school will also be selling hot beverages to raise funds.

Last year the DSAC group raised $4,000. “We hope to raise that much if not more this year,” said Crews.

Youth

Kids count coins for kids

Local students are working together to help others have a merry Christmas in 2012.

The fundraising is not over yet. Schools will continue their activities and will again bring coins to be wrapped next week. Because all of the adults helping with the organizing are volunteering, every cent (or nickel, loonie, etc.) will go directly to supporting the efforts of the local Christmas hamper society.

Once coin wrapping was complete for the day, these helpers turned to wrapping gifts for the hamper society.