Town honors marine for Toys for Tots efforts

Old Country Road Elementary School fifth graders in Hicksville recently participated in The Memory Project by sending positive messages through drawings and art to children in Nigeria.

The intent of the exchange is to promote intercultural awareness, break down cultural and geographical barriers, and inspire creativity through the universal language of art. This is the fourth year the school’s art teacher Melissa Butler has coordinated the project with her art students. Special thanks to the PTA for their donation for participation in the project. This year, 60 students from three classes created meaningful messages of kindness to share. “The students were happy to create their individual art pieces and know that something they did in class will bring a smile to another student who lives so far away,” said Butler.

The Hicksville students wrote their first name and age on the back of the artwork, attached a photo of themselves, and traced an outline of their hand. This allows all participants to see the child with whom they are exchanging art, and to symbolically touch hands across the world.

The Memory Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating global kindness through art. It is a Global Art Exchange program where American students exchange heartfelt artwork with children from countries that are culturally very different from the USA.

Photos courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools

Members of the Town of Oyster Bay Board recently recognized retired United States Marine Major Chuck Kilbride for his work in organizing the Town’s Toys for Tots program.

The Town of Oyster Bay recently recognized the incredible work of retired United States Marine Major Chuck Kilbride by celebrating the Town’s recent success of the Toys for Tots program. Toys for Tots Collection Drive, held annually in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps., benefits needy families and less fortunate children throughout the community, delivering new, unwrapped toys during the holiday season. The Toys for Tots Drive has been a huge success year in and year out here in the Town of Oyster Bay.

This year’s Drive was especially crucial, as so many families experienced a financial burden, as a result of the pandemic. Through the Town’s “Cruise-Thru” Drive which was held at John Burns Park in Massapequa and collection sites set up throughout Town facilities, the Town of Oyster Bay collected a record number of 31,000 toys this year!

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