Sometimes a little idea can go a long way.
As nine-year-old Morgan Lindeman scanned the pages of The Province last month for her class's current-affairs assignment, she was moved by a story about the Empty Stocking Fund.
Fast-forward a few days later, and the Grade 4 student at Surrey's Ecole Riverdale Elementary came up with the idea to ask the 500 students in her school to donate a loonie or toonie each to help less fortunate families at Christmastime.
"When it comes to Christmas, most nine-year-olds write out lists of all these expensive gadgets they want," mom Kelly Skog said. "Not her. She wants to give what she can."
Teacher Kristi Marasa added that "[Morgan] just came into the class with a jar and an idea."
The Empty Stocking Fund pickle jar at the school's reception sits just a few metres from a colourful poster proclaiming December "Generosity Month," a message the little girl has clearly taken to heart.
"Christmas is a time for giving," Morgan said Thursday, taking a break from decorating gingerbread houses with friends Kyla Lokey, Ariana Michalik and Mikayla Schneider.
"We get a Christmas and other families don't, so my mom and dad and I thought it would be nice to raise money for them."
Morgan was honoured in front of her classmates and presented with the school's SOAR award -- Success, Organization, Attitude and Respect -- at an assembly this week.
"It made me feel really good," she said proudly.
The generous campaign won't end once Christmas rolls around. Little Morgan already has a plan for 2011.
"This year, however much we get, we can try and get more next year, and then challenge other schools to do the same," she said.
Standing nearby, her beaming mother said the family is very impressed by Morgan's initiative.
"She wanted to give back, so other kids get to have a Christmas like hers," Skog said
"We told her it's OK to ask for help when you need it, and when you don't need it, to give help."
The school is also fundraising for the Surrey Christmas Bureau, one of the 27 community service organizations, Salvation Army centres and Christmas bureaus that are beneficiaries of the Empty Stocking Fund.
Province readers raised $404,000 last year for the Empty Stocking Fund, which helps provide food, shelter and gifts to thousands of B.C. families.