When it comes to Christmas time, no child should be left without a present under the tree. Thanks to the efforts of Campbell-Tintah School students a few more children in Wilkin County awoke Christmas morning with a special gift.

The National Honor Society held their annual Coins for Christmas campaign the final week of school before break where each day students donated their change. The student’s efforts raised $848.38 total to purchase presents for six children, ages 6 months to 15 years old, just in time for the big day.

“We were very pleased with what we raised,” Advisor Jamie Pohl said. “It was just a fun experience and great event.”

To add a little spice to the contest, all four of the Campbell-Tintah NHS students and six teachers were selected as candidates. Each day, students would deposit their donation into one or more of the candidates’ buckets. The bucket’s totals were tracked and reveled during a school assembly last Friday. The two that earned the most and the one who earned the least where greeted with several public pies to the face.

“It changes from day to day,” Pohl said. “The big thing with it was not only the pie but my biggest excitement was what this money is going for. To see these kids and parents donating money to such a wonderful cause makes a person feel real good. They are helping make someone’s Christmas a better Christmas.”

The Campbell-Tintah NHS will have a couple more charitable events in the coming months. The group will be holding a blood drive at the school in February and also food drive, where all that is collected will be donated to the Richland-Wilkin Food Pantry. The large NHS banquet to induct new members will be in May.

“It’s just great to see the excitement on the kids’ faces when they are doing something positive like this,” Pohl said.