Charli Castiglia, a second grader at Cornwell Avenue School in West Hempstead, has been participating in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program with her family since she was 3 years old.
She has always supported her parents and family in helping distribute boxes to local businesses and collecting toys to bring to the marines. This holiday season, Charli decided she wanted to be an active participant by distributing boxes of her own. Charli took the initiative on her own and wrote a letter to Cornwell Avenue Principal Ms. Deanna Sinito and Superintendent of Schools Dan Rehman asking if she could bring Toys for Tots boxes to the schools in the district. They responded with an enthusiastic yes! Charli handed out five boxes, one to each school, and collected nine bags of toys with 252 items to donate.
“I’m really proud of myself,” Charli said after collecting and counting the donations. “I helped a lot of kids!”
Additionally, on Jan. 5, Charli helped at a toy drive in which she “shopped” for children in need and donated toys.
“I like to help with Toys for Tots because I can give toys to kids who don’t have toys like I do,” Charli said. “I can help make other kids happy.”
The district commends Charli for her amazing efforts in supporting people in need.
