Students at Turner Valley School surpassed all expectations at their charity market.
The Grade 6 students aimed to raise $300 over the three-day market, with each event running over lunch hour on Feb. 8, 9 and 12.
Over the course of the three days, the students raised $1,245, more than four times their goal.
"It was a true group effort," said Allison Stewart, vice-principal at Turner Valley School. "We made the target of $300 because we really didn't know... and then we made that on the first day, it was, like, woah."
All items, including toys, accessories, baked goods and snacks, were priced from 25 cents to $4.
"I've got 22 students in my class here," said Stewart. "They all contributed through making, baking, creating and selling."
The charity market was held to benefit Play-It-Forward, a charity sending volunteers to Uganda to support and educate students.
"They'll teach the school there," said Stewart. "They'll teach the teachers and the kids games, and then they'll leave all the equipment there for them to have that benefit afterwards."
The school has hosted fundraisers before such as a Christmas food drive, and Stewart looks forward to giving students more opportunities to support their community, both locally and internationally.
"I'm so proud of the students. There's just that effort of 'oh, I can make this and I can do that' and stepping up and reaching beyond the local community.
"They all got to participate and their faces were just great when the rush of kids came through, and how fast the items were snatched up. It was just a really cool experience."
