Holy Child Students Spread Holiday Cheer in Rye

RYE, N.Y. - Students and faculty at the School of the Holy Child in Rye spread holiday cheer through its annual gift drive. According to Melissa Cortellini of Holy Child, the drive has been going on for over 20 years.

Dorothy Harris, Holy Child's diversity coordinator and director of campus ministry at the school, said the drive provides an opportunity to give back to those in need.

“It provides our students with a fantastic learning experience about giving back to our community,” Harris said. “Students also get many returns themselves for their efforts.”

Eighth graders Francesca Cicileo and Gabrielle Correia are just two of those students.

"We are happy to give to others, especially during Christmas,” they said. “We feel it is important to collect and give gifts to children—no matter what their needs are, all of them will have a Christmas present to open this year.”

This year, gifts will be distributed to children at Head Start in Port Chester, Valhalla's Westchester Medical Center, Abraham House in the Bronx, and Cardinal McCloskey Services and Cabrini Immigration Services in New York.

In addition to the gift drive, students at the School also made Christmas cards for sisters at School of the Holy Child Jesus, residents at the Port Chester Nursing Home, troops serving overseas and Midnight Run—a volunteer organization providing relief efforts to the homeless.

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