Port Jefferson School Club Collects Toys For Underprivileged Children

Every year for the past three years, the Port Jefferson Rotary Club has adopted 100 children through Infant Jesus Church’s “Adopt-A-Family” Christmas program. This year they were joined by high school students in Port Jefferson’s Interact Club helping to collect toys, books and games along with the Rotary’s contribution of clothing and other necessities. The students then joined Rotary club members on Dec. 11 to help wrap the gifts, according to a statement released by the school district.

School advisers Deirdre Filippi and Sarah Ogden helped about 40 club members to organize the toy collection in the middle and high schools.

Ogden said she was “thrilled with the response that the program received.”

Student club member Kayley Okst said the club was dedicated to making sure they gave the best gifts to the specially selected children.

“We made sure to take the extra time and effort in deciding what to give,” said Okst, a second- year Interact member.

Lauren McGuirk, another member of the club, said that students reacted enthusiastically to the drive.

“The students really got into it,” said McGuirk. “It makes people think about other kids that wouldn’t get as much or anything for Christmas if we didn’t help.”