Colonial Toy Drive supports 500+ children in need this season
Colonial Toy Drive supports 500+ children in need this season
This winter, thanks to the generosity of the Colonial Community, 513 children will have the opportunity to open holiday gifts they might not have otherwise received. The Colonial Toy Drive is supporting more than 250 families with Holiday Help in the form of gifts, clothing, and food baskets.
The program allows families to request three specific gifts per child, which are then fulfilled by community members, Colonial School District staff, local businesses, and others. This year, nearly 100% of the families were adopted—making it one of the program’s most successful years.
Volunteers from the sixth grade Red Team met at Target to shop for their family.
Many of Colonial's schools and student organizations use the Colonial Toy Drive program as a service learning opportunity. At Colonial Middle School, each of the sixth-grade teams adopted families. The Red Team alone raised more than $1,000, and students and staff volunteers gathered at Target for a team shopping spree.
“It was fun shopping with all of my friends for a good cause,” said sixth grader Macie Monastero.
Classmate Lily Fischer added, “Since I have a seven-year-old sister, I knew a little bit more about what a seven-year-old girl would want. We were able to collaborate and share ideas, so we found the perfect gifts for the kids in our adopted family.”
Volunteers at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Conshohocken organized the mountains of gifts, wrapping supplies, and additional toy donations. The effort was supported by groups like the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School baseball team, the National Honor Society, and the International Baccalaureate programme.
“We’re helping at the church sorting toys,” said PWHS junior Noah Rigberg. “It’s exciting to help out and be a part of the community.”
Members of the baseball team, National Honor Society, and International Baccalaureate programme volunteers sorting toys.
The Colonial Toy Drive, led by Dayle Malantonio, vice president of the Colonial Neighborhood Council, has grown steadily over its 30+ years. This year’s near-total adoption of families reflects the community’s remarkable generosity and support.
“Our community has become self-supporting, which is great,” said Malantonio. “The Salvation Army, who also helps us with this, has been asking me how we do it—they can’t believe there’s an area that’s pretty much taking care of themselves.”
She credits the generosity of the Colonial Community for the program's success. “We couldn’t do it without the help of the people in the community and the [Colonial School District] staff. We appreciate everybody.”