Santa’s Elves is a wrap with help from Ducharme Motors

Good news Lakeland, Santa’s Elves is a wrap with help from one local automobile dealership.

Every year since 1971, Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) collects new unwrapped toys and gifts for kids and families who are in need during the Christmas Season and this year is no different thanks to help received from Ducharme Motors.

Mark Centazzo is the Principal of BCHS.

“During Christmas Ducharme Motors always helps us collect toys and gifts as a collection site,” Centazzo told Lakeland Connect.

It is only through the generosity and diligent contributions of staff, students, and the community in the Bonnyville area that makes this endeavor possible, Centazzo says.

“Every year the students help sort and organize but the biggest job is the wrapping of the gifts,” Centazzo said. “Usually we have a huge public wrapping party in an evening, but this year the students and staff will do 100 per cent of the wrapping during the day as scheduled classes.”

With the help of staff and maintenance, the gifts will then be handed over to the Knights of Columbus in prep for delivery with their grocery hamper program.

“By supporting BCHS Santa’s Elves, the community is helping ensure that our local children can celebrate Christmas,” Centazzo said.

Toys and gifts were being collected at Ducharme Motors, The Red Apple, and at BCHS.

“A big thank-you to everyone to helped spread some Christmas Cheer by dropping by the dealership with gifts,” Ducharme Motors posted on social media. “Thank you to the wonderful Students and Staff of BCHS who put this amazing platform together every year! Have a wonderful time wrapping all the toys!”

Byron Johnson works in sales at Ducharme Motors.

“We’ve been involved collecting toys for over ten years now and it’s been very important to the dealership,” Johnson told Lakeland Connect. “I’m a BCHS alumni. There are a few BCHS alumni here.”

Johnson says it’s important to help the community this time of year.

“It’s important to spread Christmas joy and cheer to all families,” Johnson said. “We’re happy to be a part of it and BCHS has been such a big part of that for the last 40 years, so it’s great to see.”