Meanwhile, kindergartens such as Ling Yan School had also contributed OSC with students making and selling Christmas ornaments and cards. Together with the contributions from parents and teachers, the school raised HK$23,138.

'Since the school has been supporting OSC for four years, the K3 students, who had taken part in the event three times, were conscious why the school did that. Some even explained the idea to their parents,' principal Olivia Lee Yuet-ying said.

Students and parents from Singapore International School baked cookies and muffins and sold them during the annual Parent-teacher Association (PTA) Fair on December 15 for HK$10 a packet.

'The prefects from Primary 4 and their parents baked almost 200 cookies for sale, while we got 200 from the PTA and 300 sponsored by the bakery La Rose Noire,' said the preparatory and special needs teacher Veronica Chin Lai-peng.

'Students carried baskets of their products and walked around the school until the last pack had gone,' she said. 'They were very enthusiastic, passionate and were very proud of having sold all the cookies.'

Ms Chin said students and parents wanted to have the event this year too. 'Many loved the event and are eager to help again.' She said that the PTA and some parents had also sent cheques to OSC directly while the school's magazine donated its profit to the charity.

The students from Shung Tak Catholic English College had to overcome some problems before they could organise their 13th OSC at the school.

'Previous experiences showed that handling money could be a problem,' Student Union representative Rachel Lo Man-ching said.

'Since it's a sensitive issue, students had different opinions and we nearly gave up until we found out a way to handle the donations.'

Within 10 days, the students had 30 stalls ready. Together with a charity juke box, Dodge Ball contest and a singing competition, the school raised over HK$29,300.

Ms Lo highlighted the Dodge Ball contest, at which students could nominate players with votes costing HK$1 each. 'It was very popular, lots of teachers and even our headmaster were in the game,' she said.

Chairlady of the English Society, Jennifer Chan Tsz-yau, recalled the ball game: 'We got 3,000 students and staff and basically the whole school was at the pitch, watching the game.'

They both said though the fair was shortened from two days to one, it was still very popular with the students.

City University and University of Science and Technology (UST) also helped OSC.

First year digital visual design students at City University's Community College sold fortune bags on the campuses in Kowloon Tong and Kowloon Bay during the exam period.

Each bag contained beads with different colours and meanings, as well as candies and fortune predictions. Bookmarks and Christmas decorations made by the students were also on sale.

University of Science and Technology supported OSC during their annual Garage Sale, where a charity corner was set up to sell used goods like clothes, toys and books.

UST's event raised HK$8,500 for OSC. The event also helped participants by the 3'Rs: reducing, recycling and reusing, instead of sending these items to the landfill.

Thousand of students took part in last year's OSC. Each of them put in an effort, however small, and together they lit up many hearts in the city.

Project director of OSC, Sheila Chan Sui-lan, thanked the schools for their support. 'I was very impressed by the wide range of creative and fun-filled events that the schools had organised to raise funds for OSC and the enthusiasm shown by the students as well as their eagerness to help,' she said, adding that the total amount raised for 2007 was a record-breaking total of over $490,000.

Ms Chan applauded these little Santas. 'Your little efforts have indeed helped to make a difference for the needy in Hong Kong,' she said.