“Best Day Ever”: Caledon students receive gift bags from Amazon

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In July, Amazon representatives visited Tony Pontes Public School in Caledon to distribute 150 bags of school supplies to students during their first week back to school. Now, they've completed their full donation of 500 gift bags to students across Caledon as the school year begins, by donating an additional 350.

This week, Amazon visited James Bolton Public School and Ellwood Memorial Public School to donate 175 gift bags to each.

The bags contain items to help the kids ease back into the new school year, including supplies such as notebooks, pens, scissors, erasers, sharpeners, pencil cases, highlighters, and more.

Principal Jeremy Taylor of James Bolton Public School shared that Amazon's initiative lined up perfectly with what they try to teach at their school.

At James Bolton Public School, students learn about kindness and the importance of taking care of themselves and one another.

Throughout the year, they do kindness campaigns, such as clothing drives and a cereal box collection, which enabled them to donate around 850 boxes of cereal to Caledon Community Services and their exchange.

“When Amazon reached out and had us be the recipients of a random act of kindness, it was a neat twist that I could put on the teaching what we're doing here, that we always are thinking about taking care of each other, and this is an opportunity where we can celebrate,” explained Taylor.

Grades One to Three, along with some fourth graders, were the recipients of the gift bags, and each class wrote a thank-you card for Amazon.

Taylor shared that the students have been wearing their bags all day, and one shared that this was “the best day ever.”

He was happy that, usually, the kids learn about kindness, and today they had the opportunity to learn about gratitude.

“Building a future filled with kids that know how to focus on kindness, it's going to make the world a better place,” says Taylor.

He shared that they are grateful and highly appreciative of the initiative.

“They're going to remember this for a long time.”