To the Editor:

The Teaching Assistant Unit of the Guilderland Teachers’ Association is sponsoring its Sixth Annual Holiday Toy Drive to benefit needy area children. The month-long drive will run through Dec. 12.

New toys, games, books, craft kits, or gift cards, as well as wrapping paper, bows, ribbon and tape 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 toy drive. The first priority for distribution of the toys is at a party for 23 children from St. Catherine’s Center who are awaiting foster care. The children range in age from 2 to 12 years old.

Georgianna says that this is the largest number of children she has seen in recent years that will not have a home for the holidays. The rest of the toys will be distributed to children from 110 area families who are experiencing difficulties in their lives such as the loss of a loved one, a severe illness, or suffering some other misfortune.  These people need a special holiday season this year.

The Guilderland Teaching Assistants is made up of 116 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 with this very worthwhile project.

Janet D'Arcangelis for the
The Guilderland Teaching Assistants