Santa’s Elves Keeping Busy
December 2, 2009

Santa’s elves, also known as Saint Patrick seniors Vic Balundis (Elm Middle School), Kevin Felke (Immaculate Conception), Sean Mayerbock (St. Edward), Sean McLoughlin (St. Francis Borgia), Brendan Oates (St. Tarcissus), Mark Verrilli (St. Tarcissus) and Matt Forrrest (St. Eugene), were on their toes this week organizing the treasure trove of toys Saint Patrick students donated towards the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation Toy Drive. The Tonka trucks, Candy Lands, Scrabbles, Barbie Dolls and hundreds of other toys and games will become a part of the Foundation’s efforts to give the gift of Christmas to kids who might not otherwise have a visit from Santa Clause. “What a tribute to Walter Payton’s spirit of giving to others,” said head football coach and drive coordinator Dan Galante. “Our families are having a tough time with the economy, but our food drive and toy drives have shown how great the spirit of Christmas is among our students.” St. Pat’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive which wrapped up just last week resulted in over 100 boxes of food, enough to provide significant contributions to the St. Vincent de Paul and Irving Park food pantries. Galante anticipates the toy donations will fill eighteen large boxes, several more than was collected last year. The annual Dinner with the Deans program that encourages students to contribute to the drive raised over $500 towards the effort.

The school’s last remaining holiday drive is the Adopt-A-Kid program sponsored through the Adopt a Kid Program/People Care Network. St. Pat’s agreed to “adopt” 120 children for the venture.