Santa was driving a school bus Thursday morning thanks to students at area Catholic schools and Windsor police.
Students at nine schools and Windsor police collected food and toys to fill two small school buses to help the needy as part of the fifth annual "Santa's School Bus Toy Drive" with proceeds going to the local Children's Aid Society and the group Advocating Young Minds.
"It makes us feel happy and nice to know that we are helping others," says Gr. 6 student Albert Amoah at St. James elementary school.
Catholic Board Spokesperson Stephen Fields says it's a valuable lesson for students.
"It is just important for kids to be able to learn that this is an important thing that you do," he says. "That you give back to your community and you help people who are more vulnerable and try to do what you can to make sure that everyone is well taken care of."
Advocating Young Minds provides after-school programs for students from Gr. 1 to 8 and Kovaliv will help to provide a nutritious meal and gifts for kids.
Group Spokesperson MacKenzie Kovaliv says the donation will help out a lot.
"The families in our neighbourhood, what we have noticed is that there is usually quite a big families living in small units and there is a lot of children and the holidays are hard for everyone," she says.