News Releases

Pajama Clad Students Celebrate Helping Others

November 28, 2008

(Ottawa, ON)

November 28th marked the kick-off of the 13th Annual Pennies for Portions Fundraiser. Pennies 4 Portions is a campaign that asks Ottawa area students to collect spare change from their couches, lockers and coat pockets to support the Christmas Exchange.

This year’s Pennies 4 Portions kick-off was hosted by Vincent Massey Public School where students celebrated the annual fundraiser by dressing up in their finest pajamas. An assembly was hosted by popular CBC radio host Adrian Harewood who is the Hounourary Campaign Chair for the Christmas Exchange. Adrian engaged the students in a discussion about the upcoming Holidays and the importance of helping others in our community. A competition was also held to determine which student had the best pajamas with the winner receiving a gingerbread house to share with their classmates. The assembly ended with a surprise announcement; that the Vincent Massey School Council will be matching the amount that the students collect during the campaign and donating it to the Christmas Exchange.

This year there is a total of 14 different schools participating in Pennies 4 Portions. Over $9,000 was raised for the Christmas Exchange in 2007 through the fundraiser, an amount we’re aiming to surpass with this year’s campaign. The money collected for the Christmas Exchange goes directly to providing food hampers and vouchers to those in Ottawa who need a little extra help during the Holiday season. Last year the Christmas Exchange helped over 8,600 families and this year there are already 6,000 households registered with another 3,000 expected to register in the next month.