It’s called Operation Holly-Mark, and it’s another sign how Christmas joy is spreading through the Pembina Valley. The Graphics and Photography class at Winkler’s Garden Valley Collegiate is creating Christmas cards for those who need a pick me up at this time of year.

Teacher, Darren Crane, says they’ve done this project on a smaller scale in previous years, but have ramped it up for 2020.

“As I started making more phone calls to different places, they were like ‘This is wonderful,’” explains Crane. “At times like this, when you’re hearing you might not be able to spend time with family, again, if you can get a Christmas card into somebody’s hands, and just make them have a little bit of a smile, that’s a good thing.”

Crane says they are planning on dropping off cards as gifts to those at Salem Home, Boundary Trails Health Centre, Buhler Active Living Centre and Genesis House, but expects that list to grow as word of the project gets out to the community.

“When I rolled this out to the students, they said ‘This is great,’” says Crane. “They absolutely love the idea, number one, that they are giving back, but I think it’s always nice, too, when you can actually see your work in print.”

Crane notes the cards will come in different sizes, with a variety of different images and pictures, adding all of it is original work created by the students in his class.

Staples in Winkler has partnered with the class to help print the cards at no charge. Crane says they are aiming to create about 175 in total.