Students and staff in Comox Valley Schools get down to work today on the Everyone Deserves a Smile Program.

Led by a team at Ecole Puntledge Park, the program has been active for 12 years in Comox Valley Schools and this year has expanded to Campbell River, Port Alberni, Nanaimo, qathet, and Red Deer school districts.

They’ll be putting together care packages to be distributed to those in need or experiencing homelessness. Over the years, over 26,000 care packages have been distributed.

The district says the program, while brightening the lives of those who receive the packages, also impresses upon students the importance of the choices they make today in setting a course for their futures.

For more information, visit Everyone Deserves a Smile.