STUDENTS GIVING BACK

Continental School students collected nearly 350 toys for children who will be spending this Christmas in a hospital bed. The toy drive was organized by parent Ana Alvarado, not pictured, who along with her family has been collecting Christmas toys for hospitalized children for several years. The kindergarten classes hosted the drive, though the generosity soon spread school-wide. Tucson Medical Center child life specialist Jolene Eggert thanked students and said stuffed animals and other toys can make a hospital stay much less frightening for a child. She said the toys will be given to kids in the TMC and University Medical Center’s pediatric units on Christmas morning. Pictured in front, from left to right: Ashlee Rollins, Carley Herrera and Jacob Garcia. Back: Morgan Monahan, kindergarten teacher Patti Teso, Anthony Kale, Josh Alvarado, Jolene Eggert and Oaky Lira.