Students, Community Boost High School’s Annual Toy Drive
Students, Community Boost High School’s Annual Toy Drive
Seaford High School’s student government officers joined forces with players from a quartet of basketball teams for the annual holiday toy drive.
With four consecutive home basketball games on Dec. 7 – girls varsity, girls junior varsity, boys varsity and boys junior varsity – the student council encouraged players and fans to donate new, unwrapped toys. The response was overwhelming and will help student leaders fulfill their mission.
On Dec. 18 and 19, student council members will dress up as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and elves, and visit children at Head Start programs in Hempstead and Westbury. They will hand out approximately 200 toys based on each child’s specific wish.
“It’s a nice process,” said ninth grade student council member Henry Brock about the efforts to sort, wrap and label each toy to ensure all of the children get something they want. “It really gives back to the community. You feel good to help someone else have a better day and a better Christmas.”
The student council will donate additional toys to Hope for Youth, an organization that supports the foster care system.
Seaford High School students could donate during their second period classes. Student council representatives visited the Seaford Harbor PTA’s Polar Express night, at which each family was asked to contribute a toy. There is also a community drop-off day at the high school on Dec. 15.
This was the first year the student council partnered with the basketball teams for a toy collection. Girls varsity basketball captain Skyler Secondino said that every player contributed at least one toy, as they recognized the impact their donation could have on local children and families. Their parents and several fans also brought toys to the game, as well as opposing players from Division Avenue High School.
“It was nice to see the ripple effect of the word of mouth,” Skyler said, adding that she wants to see this partnership continue every year. “It's a good tradition that hopefully we have started.”
Jessica Grzelaczyk added that this was a way for the players to give back to a community that is very supportive of the basketball team.
