Helping children who are in the hospital over the holidays is one way the Somers Middle School Service Club delivers on its mission – making a difference and helping the community.

Over the past several weeks, boxes have been placed in the lobby at SMS to collect new, unwrapped toys for the children at Blythedale Children’s Hospital. The SMS community has stuffed the donation boxes with a range of items like Legos, action figures, arts and crafts, games, puzzles, Slime kits and technology gadgets. The toy drive ends on December 17 and items will be delivered to the children in time for the holidays.

“I think this event is important not only because the new toys make it nice for the kids in the hospital but because it can also help them think about something fun while they are there,” said sixth grader Allison Giron.

Kaya Duzynski, also in sixth grade agreed and said she thinks the Service Club events like the Toy Drive help other kids to know that people are thinking of them.

The SMS Service Club participates in several events throughout the year. Club members wrote letters to veterans to include in the St. Luke’s Food Drive for them in November and had a candy drive for to the Greater Hudson Valley Ronald McDonald House in Valhalla in October. Upcoming plans for the winter months include a dog food and blanket drive for the Humane Society.

“At our first meeting of the year, we brainstorm ideas of what events we want to participate in,” said teacher Daniel Drebycz, who advises the club with fellow teacher Annette Soares.

Seventh grader Ryan Hunter said that being part of the Service Club is a great experience for him and sends a good message to the school community. “The Service Club teaches about how we can help our community and be good role models for others,” Hunter said.

The SMS Service Club meets every other Tuesday after school.