Last December, Holy Cross H.S., Flushing, rallied to obtain toys for families in need of assistance by providing gifts to their children. Each homeroom was assigned a family from one of several Queens’ parishes. This toy drive began with the initiative of the school’s director of service learning and the director of campus ministry.

Through student-led fundraising campaigns, students raised about $4,800, which allowed them to purchase over 443 brand-new toys. The school also donated 372 new toys for the families.

“There is no better way to begin the Year of Mercy than with kids helping kids,” said Thomas Lynch, director of youth ministry at Holy Trinity, Whitestone, while observing students sort and distribute the toys.

Due to Holy Cross’ efforts, Holy Trinity provided 85 families with at least two gifts for each child. The high school directors received many other thankful phone calls from churches.

Because Holy Cross had exceeded the goals of its first toy drive, Campus Ministry Director Jack Rampulla tried to identify other parishes with families in need.

While searching through Hempstead, Rampulla stumbled onto the porch of a Catholic church. Accidentally acting as a modern-day St. Nicholas, Rampulla was told the parish was in the midst of an unsuccessful toy drive.

Knowing God does indeed work in mysterious ways, he felt that God had led him there. He offered the toys to the parishioners who responded by offering prayers for the young men, faculty and staff of Holy Cross. As a result, more than 40 children awoke to their very own unexpected gifts on Christmas morning.