To the Editor:

The Teaching Assistant Unit of the Guilderland Teachers’ Association is sponsoring its Sixteenth Annual Holiday Toy Drive to benefit needy area children. The month-long drive will run through Dec. 6.

New toys, games, and books may be donated at any of the seven schools in the Guilderland School District. There are drop-off boxes in the lobby of each of the schools.

Georgianna Pennacchia, the president of the St. Madeleine Sophie Food Pantry, is grateful for the support and generosity shown by the school community each year through this drive.

This year, the first priority for distribution of the toys will be to children awaiting foster care placement from Northern Rivers Family Services. Most of these children are over the age of 12 with a few children around age 8.

The rest of the toys will be distributed to children from about 150 local families who are experiencing difficulties in their lives and are in need of a special holiday season this year.

The Guilderland Teaching Assistants is a unit made up of over 125 paraprofessionals who assist students through classroom support across a variety of curriculum areas, often working with individuals and small groups.

With the help of the school district and the community, the TAs hope to help provide a happy holiday for many area children. Thank you for your help and support during this very worthwhile project.

Christine Govin

Unit President

Guilderland Teaching Assistants