During Advent, students of all ages from around the St. Cloud Diocese were invited to create a toy or game using only reused, recycled or common items found around one’s house or classroom for the annual Advent Toy Contest sponsored by the St. Cloud Mission Office. There were 11 submissions from three schools.
This initiative was established to help students think about those that do not receive store-bought gifts and to pray for them throughout the holidays. Cash gifts, donated by the Catholic Foundation and the Mission Office, were awarded to the schools of the winning toys’ creators.
A $350 prize was awarded to St. John’s Area School in Foley for winning first place and third place. First place went to fifth-grader Emma Beckworth, for her dollhouse. Talan Pietrzak, also a fifth-grader, won third place for a Plinko game.
Second place, a $150 prize, went to Holy Trinity School in Pierz, for a mermaid bedroom dollhouse created by Kayla Virnig, a fourth-grader.
An honorable mention with a $50 prize was given to All Saints Academy in St. Joseph, for a dog pull toy made by first-grader Jack Molus.
