Students trade one gold paperclip

Students from St. Clair College are giving back to the community by bartering large gold paperclips.

A group from the child and youth work program at the Thames Campus at St. Clair in Chatham is trading gold paperclips for items with local businesses. The donated goods will be sold in a silent auction at the end of March.

The idea for the project came from Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald, who bartered his way from a red paperclip to a house in Kipling, Sask.

Coordinator of the child and youth work accelerated program Joy Kemble said the needs of children are getting greater and funding is becoming less and less.

“Agencies are having to be very creative with how they meet the needs of the clientele,” said Kemble

“We can’t have the clientele going without the needs being met.”

Businesses who have already donated items to the auction include CKSY Radio, Southern Flair, Copper Terrace Nursing Home and Bowlerama.

Child and youth student Tiffany Owen said she hopes to bring awareness to the community from this project.

“Children are facing a lot of hunger and homelessness. We hope to donate to services who help out these children,” said Owen.

If you would like to trade with the students and donate to the auction email [email protected].