“This world is filled with kind and generous people and all of you here are among those people. Your kindness and generosity mean so much.”

Those were the words of Samantha Shipherd of Unity House in Troy as she thanked fifth-grade students at Hamagrael Elementary School as they packed a van full of donated toys, books, coats, hats and mittens.

The items were collected from K-5 Hamagrael families who “adopted a snowflake.” Each snowflake had a wish list of items for children in need. Unity House serves more than 1,000 children in the Capital Region. 

The fifth graders moved more than 150 bags, boxes and totes into a van supplied by Northeast Acura that is bringing the gifts and other items to Unity House for distribution. Students worked with PTA members and with Unity House to create the snowflakes and gather donations. The effort was part of the school’s Kids Helping Kids volunteer service program.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this holiday season tradition at Hamagrael.