Student-led initiative gives youth chance to give back and learn
By Chelsie Couture, Woodstock High School correspondent
What began back in November 2025 as a small World Kindness Day idea quickly grew into something none of us expected. A simple conversation about helping others in Mrs. Porter’s Grade 11 English class at Woodstock High School led to the creation of 20 full Hand-Up Backpacks for people experiencing homelessness during the toughest time of the year. Watching the project grow showed us just how powerful kindness can become when a community gets involved.
The donations that made this possible came from people who cared. Our local Royal Bank branch heard about our project and donated $1,500. A generous community member gave $100; students, staff and our community added countless items to our donation bin.
With all this support, some students in our class went to Walmart to gather the final supplies. Walking through the aisles together, filling carts with warm clothing and hygiene products, made the project feel real. We were not just talking about kindness anymore; we were creating it.
Packing day felt even more special. Our classroom transformed into a busy, happy space filled with people who wanted to help.
The Royal Bank, the project’s main sponsor, also sent three of its employees to help with the packing: Jonathan Willis, Michelle Naidoo, and Branch Manager Cindy Mortensen. Woodstock Police Force Cst. Porter and Monica Grant from Valley Food Bank also joined us. It no longer felt like a school assignment; it felt like a community coming together for something that mattered.
Cst. Porter shared stories that helped us understand the impact of what we were doing. He explained that officers encounter people in all kinds of situations, and many individuals “hold on to these backpacks” because they are among the few dependable things they have. Hearing that police use around 15 backpacks a month, especially in the freezing winter weather, made us realize just how important these bags are.
Others who helped pack also shared meaningful insights. Naidoo, from RBC, reminded us that the bank sees “people from all walks of life,” showing that many people experience tough times and that it isn’t always easy to spot them.
Ms. Grant from the food bank added that these struggles are closer than we may think, saying that chances are “you know someone who is going through this.” Those words stayed with many of us long after packing day ended.
As a student in Mrs. Porter’s class, I learned that kindness does not stay small unless you let it. What began as a single idea grew into something that brought together students, police officers, bank workers, and community members, all working side by side.
With winter making life even harder for people without stable housing, each backpack is more than just a collection of items; it is a message that someone out there cares. Being part of that message is something I will always carry with me.
