High schoolers enjoyed seeing children benefit from toy drive
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Joshua Bailey, 5, who is in kindergarten at Greenbrier Elementary School, goes through the presents he got from a toy drive. He and third-grader Miranda Lonergan were chosen to receive toys collected by four clubs from Greenbrier High School.
Photo by Donnie Fetter
Joshua Bailey stared at the table of toys before him Wednesday afternoon and was momentarily awed into silence. The 5-year-old kindergartner at Greenbrier Elementary School then realized the presents were all for him.
He unleashed a hearty, "Oh, yeah!"
Joshua was one of two Greenbrier Elementary pupils who were in need and were chosen to win presents donated by four clubs from Greenbrier High School.
He and Miranda Lonergan, a 10-year-old third-grader at Greenbrier Elementary, each received about 10 toys from the Greenbrier Golden Wolves, Wolfpack Pride, step team and hip-hop clubs, all of which held a charity Christmas Jam on Dec. 10 to collect the toys.
"We wanted to do a project that would have an immediate impact in our community," Greenbrier High Assistant Principal Michael Johnson said.
Other student organizations at Greenbrier High are collecting toys for Toys for Tots, Johnson said. He and his students agreed it felt more satisfying to put a face and name to the children they were helping.
"It felt really good to do something for people and then be able to see them benefit from it," said Greenbrier senior Alisha Simmons, who helped organize the toy drive.
Joshua Bailey, 5, and Miranda Lonergan, 10, of Greenbrier Elementary School, react to seeing a table full of presents for them, collected by members of four Greenbrier High School clubs.
Photo by Donnie Fetter
Joshua's mother, Crystal Bailey, said the presents were very much appreciated.
"It'll make a big difference in our household," Bailey said. "It's just amazing what these students have done."