Frank G. Students Help Children in Need

 Students and staff at helped spread some holiday cheer this year. The Fifth Grade Student Government, under the supervision of Ms. Megan Welch, a fifth grade teacher and student government advisor, organized a toy drive for the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center. 

In conjunction with the toy drive, the Student Government held a Candy Cane sale during the first week of December.  This year, the Student Government chose to donate the proceeds from the sale to the Smile Train Foundation to help children in need. Beginning December 5^th, students began selling candy canes for fifty cents to students and one dollar to staff and family members.  Each candy cane that was purchased also had a personal message attached to it.  These cheerful holiday messages were delivered on Wednesday, December 14, by representatives from the fifth grade. Members of the staff at Frank G. Lindsey and many fifth grade students generously donated the candy canes, which helped make the total donation even greater.  As a result of the generous participation by the Frank G. Lindsey staff, students and families, the Student Government raised $1,450 to a very worthy cause. Due to the generosity of a donor who wished to remain anonymous, the students were able to double the donation, bringing the total to $2,900.

As a culmination to the toy drive, on December 13, the Student Government and Frank G. Lindsey Student Peer Mediators traveled down to Maria Fareri and donated over one hundred toys, as well as a fifty dollar donation.  After meeting with Lauren Brown-Nittoli, a Certified Child Life Specialist at the hospital who helped coordinate the donation, the students handed over seven large boxes of toys. The students learned where their donations would be going and had the opportunity to view the lobby of the hospital.

During this season, when so many of our students are fortunate to receive an abundance of gifts and treats, it was gratifying to witness the generosity and good will that was inspired by the candy cane fundraiser and the toy drive.