Students Set Gift-Collecting Record for 'Katie's Krusaders'

Sixth-graders at Russell C. Struble Elementary School learned an important message of the holiday season: It's better to give than to receive. 

Students recently completed their community service project, a toy drive called Katie’s Krusaders, which benefits children at St. Christopher’s Hospital. Katie Duffin was the granddaughter of a retired Bensalem Township School District secretary. She died of cancer in 2003, at just 4 years old.  As a way to remember Katie, her family created Katie’s Krusaders.  

The organization's primary goal is to raise awareness of childhood cancer. In addition, the group offers support to families that are going through what Katie’s family went through during her brief life. 

Struble's sixth-graders have been collecting, wrapping and donating toys to the drive since 2004. This year, they donated more than 200 toys, the largest amount ever collected at Struble.