It was a fight to the finish for the coffee and donuts prize for the advisory group that collected the most toys by the December 16th deadline. In the end, Mr. Akalonu and Dr. Bradley’s group were the winners with 31 toys donated to the Child Development Support Corporation(CDSC) Toy Drive. Service Learning students created the competition as an added incentive after approaching the CDSC about participating in their toy drive. “We decided to do something within our community since we remembered that the CDSC had a toy drive last year that we didn’t participate in,” said Chelsea M. ‘21, one of the SL student leaders behind the effort. This is the second Service Learning initiative of the term. The SL team held a bake sale to raise money that was donated to Sisters Network, an organization raising awareness of the impact of breast cancer on Women of Color.
In its 10th year and spearheaded by Mireille Massac, Community Relations Manager for the CDSC, the Toy Drive serves around 160 children in the Clinton Hill/Bedstuy surrounding neighborhoods. Many of the toy recipients attend the CDSC’s weekly food pantry. The Winchendon School | Brooklyn joins long-time sponsors and local pizza restaurant Speedy Romeos and first-year participants The Learning Experience. “It’s become a real community effort,” said Ms. Massac who will spend the next few days inviting families and sorting through the toys. “I think it’s important to help the CDSC because we are giving back to the community,” said Mendez. With The School matching gifts brought in by faculty, The Winchendon School | Brooklyn donated over 75 toys that will be given out at the CDSC’s holiday party on Friday afternoon.
