Santa's Elves

Student members of the Toy Making Club from Bay Shore Middle School meet once a week after school to create toys to give to needy children. Throughout the year, the students build toys that are either donated to underprivileged children or sold during a school fund-raiser to help families in the community. Steve Kaplan, a technology teacher, who created the club in 2008, said he began the club because he wanted to teach the students the importance of helping others. “I joined the Toy Making Club because I love making and crafting toys. It makes me feel pretty good knowing that children will get a gift that the Toy Making Club made,” shared seventh grader Esthela.

So far this year, the students have made 50 nok hockey sets. Working in a manufacturing style, groups of sixth through eighth graders assemble different pieces of the game at the same time. They put together frames, bottom boards, bumpers and blockers and stuff the completed games with hockey sticks and pucks. Prior to assembling, the students learned how to use the tools and machines to build all pieces of the games. Summing up the feelings of the day eighth grader Bruno exclaimed, “It makes me feel happy when I make toys for those children that don’t have any.” Seventh grader Jordan added, “I love knowing I'm helping others and making people happy.”