Club helps kids help kids

Families at Holy Name of Mary School in Valley Stream, New York, partnered with the Kiwanis Club of LaGuardia Airport to create care packages for Iraqi orphans. Known as “Kids Helping Kids with Packages of Peace,” the project was created after LaGuardia Kiwanian Vincent Montera, who was on active duty in Iraq, reported back to Kiwanian Richard Lotti, the needs of Iraq’s children—particularly orphans. Richard also is a parishioner of Holy Name of Mary.

On a Sunday afternoon, about 50 Kiwanians, church parishioners, and parish children packed donated school supplies, hygiene items, towels, blankets, clothing, games, puzzles, candy, gum, snacks, toys, crayons, coloring books, and much more, into boxes for Iraqi children. The parish children who participated belong to “STEWFORKIDS,” an organization that teaches its members “good stewardship in their everyday lives.” The children made greeting cards and tucked those and photos of themselves into the care packages.