Reed Student Starts Doll Drive

By Eliza Hallabeck

A box in Reed Intermediate School’s main lobby was nearly half-full on Tuesday, December 6, with dolls for a doll drive initiated by fifth grade student Isabel Pacchiana. The Holiday Doll Drive will continue through December 12 to collect gently used dolls and action heroes.

All donations will then be sorted and cleaned by volunteers before being donated to Newtown Social Services for its annual Holiday Basket Program.

“I’m hoping that we can get a lot of dolls so that a lot of kids will have a happy Christmas and have something to be happy about,” said Isabel this week.

According to Isabel’s mother, Miranda, the drive was completely Isabel’s idea.

“She came to me a couple months ago and said she wanted to do something for people who needed help during the holidays,” said Ms Pacchiana.

Isabel has also made morning announcements at her school to remind the school community to donate to the drive.

On Tuesday, Isabel said community members can also donate to the cause by dropping gently used dolls and action heroes off in the box set up in the school’s lobby.

Responses to the Holiday Doll Drive have been positive so far, according to Isabel.

“A lot of people are donating their dolls,” said the fifth grader.

Isabel said she thankful for the support she has received from her mother and teachers Peter Bernson and Carla Tischio.

She also said she is hoping to make the Holiday Doll Drive an annual event, and is hoping to branch it out to other schools in the future.

Donations for the Holiday Doll Drive will be accepted until December 12.