Yonkers students spread Christmas spirit with holiday toy drive for foster children

Seth Harrison, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·1 min read
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Students at the Charter School of Educational Excellence in Yonkers began their school day Wednesday by packing dozens of toys, dolls and other holiday gifts as the culmination of a school-wide toy drive. Members of the Helping Hands, an after-school club, collected donated gifts from fellow students and parents. The final destination for the toys was Graham Windham, a Harlem-based organization that provides foster care, adoption services and other child welfare programs for families and children.

Students at the Charter School of Educational Excellence in Yonkers pack up donated toys as the culmination of a toy drive at the school Dec. 20. 2023. Members of the Helping Hands Club, an after school club, collected toys, dolls, and other holiday gifts to be delivered to Graham Wyndham, a Harlem based organization that provides foster care, adoption services, and other child welfare programs for children and families.

Silvana Minaya, an 11th-grade student, said, “It makes me feel really nice. We’re helping people out, and I hope that these kids at the orphanage really enjoy these gifts, and hopefully this can give them some happiness.

At the end of the school day, the students were to take a bus to Harlem to deliver the gifts in person.

Students at the Charter School of Educational Excellence in Yonkers pack up donated toys as the culmination of a toy drive at the school Dec. 20. 2023. Members of the Helping Hands Club, an after school club, collected toys, dolls, and other holiday gifts to be delivered to Graham Wyndham, a Harlem based organization that provides foster care, adoption services, and other child welfare programs for children and families.

“I’m very proud of the students”, said Principal Dwain Palmer. “They are blessed, and it’s a great time to be a blessing to those who are less fortunate.”

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Yonkers NY students hold holiday toy, gift drive for foster children