Over 200 bags of warm winter gear, some treats and heartfelt notes were collected at a south Nanaimo school on Thursday, part of the Everyone Deserves a Smile campaign. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

spreading joy

‘Put a smile on people’s faces:’ Nanaimo students bring warmth and support to those in need

Dec 18, 2025 | 4:10 PM

NANAIMO — Local students are working hard this month ensuring everyone has a smile on their face this Christmas.

Students from Georgia Avenue Elementary School in south Nanaimo were busy on Thursday, Dec. 18, putting care packages together for “Everyone Deserves a Smile,” an annual campaign, providing warmth essentials and uplifting treats to those in need.

Grade seven student Lennon Stewart got involved for the first time this year because she wanted to help brighten someone’s day.

“It makes me feel really good that I’m able to do this and make sure that people are happy this year, because I know that a lot of people sometimes don’t always even have somebody to celebrate Christmas with, so I hope this can put a smile on people’s faces and make sure no one’s feeling sad this Christmas.”

Georgia Avenue grade seven student Logan Canaday helps sort items into bags on Dec. 18, with an initial goal of 150 bags. (Jordan Davidson)

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Over 200 packages were assembled at the school on Thursday, with the grade sevens taking the lead and helping younger students sort the different items into bags, with each bag customized with drawings done by SD68 students.

Items include gloves, toques, socks, soap, handwritten notes of encouragement, toothbrushes and toothpaste, all donated by generous members of the community.

“I wanted to participate because I wanted to see everyone with a smile on their face this Christmas, because everyone deserves a smile,” said Diaa Al Saeed, another grade seven student. “I wanted to help with that because I thought it would be really fun and make lots of people smile at the gifts that we’re giving them.”

Grade seven student Diaa Al Saeed sorting through the baked goods being sorted at Georgia Avenue Elementary on Dec. 18. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Grade seven teacher and vice principal Megan Barritt-Flatt has been the lead for EDAS for a few years now, putting calls out to fellow teachers at other local schools for volunteers and donations.

She said students at Ecole Hammond Bay school baked the cookies, while Ecole Quarterway students supplied handmade cards, Rutherford elementary, Georgia Avenue and Nanaimo Christian School painted bags.

Rutherford and Georgia Avenue students spearheaded donation efforts.

“It’s an empathy-based project that shows that you can give even if you don’t have a lot, and so it allows students to see the impact of giving on others. What that does is create a kinder and more empathetic school community.”

Once the bags were ready to go, Barritt-Flatt loads them and the grade seven students into a van for delivery, dropping the bags off at the Island Crisis Care Society and Risebridge, who will distribute items to those in need.

She said this is an important “capacity-building” project for the students, emphasizing the importance of social responsibility, with EDAS touching on several important curriculum topics.

“It hits social studies, it hits math because we’re counting things and budgeting, and really it’s a cross-curricular project. The students that I see, that were my students and participated in the project that are now in high school, always talk about this project. It is important to them and has been a model for them giving in their future.”

Georgia Avenue students from all grades helped packed the bags on Thursday, guided by the grade seven students. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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