St. Petronille in Glen Ellyn collects toys for hospital patients over the holidays

GLEN ELLYN — The eighth grade Leadership Academy at St. Petronille Catholic School in Glen Ellyn spent the days leading up to their winter break collecting more than 1,500 toys for children who would be spending the holidays at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Toys were valued at less than $15 and donated by St. Petronille School families.

Each grade level at the school was asked to donate toys appropriate for children at their particular age level as a way to ensure the donated toys could be appreciated by children of all ages.

The Holiday Toy Drive was started and run by 13 eighth graders who were chosen to be a part of the Leadership Academy in the fall.

The purpose of the academy is to help students create positive change through working together on service-oriented projects involving their fellow students, teachers, parents and community members.

Academy members are receiving small group training and mentorship for becoming young student leaders under the direction of Kathy Gudonis, school social worker, and Scott Van Lenten, counseling intern.