Smithtown HS Groups Collect Toys for Youngsters

Smithtown High School East’s Interact Club and the school’s varsity cheerleaders teamed up to collect toys from students, faculty, staff and local businesses for the U.S. Marine’s annual Toys for Tots drive.

Club members and cheerleaders helped Marines load approximately 20 large boxes of toys (estimated to hold more than 2,500 toys) onto two trucks to be distributed to families in need throughout Suffolk County via social service organizations, churches, shelters and other organizations.

HSE Interact placed boxes around the school and at area businesses, while cheerleaders invited other athletic squads to bring an unwrapped toy to their events. Thanks to Interact adviser Christina Giangrandi and cheerleader Ashley Canale (the organizer for the cheerleaders), all of the students involved and all who contributed a toy, as well as the U.S. Marines for sponsoring this wonderful program.

The Smithtown High School West Italian Honor Society also participated in the Toys for Tots Drive, organized by the Ferrari-Maserati Dealerships of Long Island. HSW students helped to collect thousands of toys for the annual drive, which is sponsored by the United States Marine Corps. Diana Riccoboni is the Italian Honor Society club adviser.

Additionally, HSE Athletes Helping Athletes members collected toys, clothing and gifts to be distributed for the holidays. Donations were made to Avalon Gardens Children’s Hospice and Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Additionally, hundreds of items were collected for the Northport Veterans Hospital. Helen Flynn is the HSE AHA adviser.

Photos courtesy of the Smithtown Central School District:

Photo 1: HSE’s Interact Club and varsity cheerleaders teamed up to collect toys from students, faculty, staff and local businesses for the U.S. Marine’s annual Toys for Tots drive. Students are pictured with the Marines during the pickup, along with Interact adviser Christina Giangrandi (far left) and HSE Assistant Principal Jason Pettis (far right).

Photo 2: HSW Italian Honor Society students led a Toys for Tots drive through a local car dealership. Pictured (from left) are HSW students Kristen Behrens, Kaitlyn Wahl, Anthony Soldo (program organizer), Richard White, Victoria Grasso and Robert Villano.

Photo 3: Pictured are HSE Athletes Helping Athletes members, who led a toy drive this holiday season. Pictured are Madeline Amzler, Kelly Mawn, Jessica Gallery, Chris Walsh, Taylor Drost, Jessica Martin, Richard Zampieron, Olivia Shenkman, Rachel Moinian and Carleigh Caulfield.

Photo 4: HSE’s Interact Club and varsity cheerleaders prepare toys collected from students, faculty, staff and local businesses for the U.S. Marine’s annual Toys for Tots drive.