A Helping Hand from Le Lycée

Le Lycée Francais is a wonderful school, and the staff and students there have huge, giving hearts! The staff and students graciously chose IHADLA for their annual Holiday Toy Drive, where the Le Lycée students were given the opportunity to help other kids in Los Angeles. We at IHADLA could not be more appreciative of the generosity of the students, staff, family, and community of Le Lycée as they rallied together to give our Dreamers the gift of any toy of their choice while providing friendship and a day of fun for all of the students involved. This was a true day of kids helping kids as they learned how to help one another and give back in different ways while gaining perspective.

Kids Helping Kids

Last year, Le Lycée and our now sixth grade student Dreamers in Watts exchanged toys and memories at 99th Street Elementary School. This year, the Le Lycée students traveled across Los Angeles to Sunrise Elementary in Boyle Heights to deliver the assortment of delightful toys, which they chose themselves, and distribute them to our Dreamers. Our new third grade Dreamers eagerly awaited the Le Lycée boys and girls. Both sets of students experienced the kindness of other kids as they played with the toys together and made new friends during the holiday toy drive! After the kids enjoyed each other’s company, the IHADLA staff delivered the remaining toys to Program 18 Dreamers in Watts. In total, the Le Lycée students donated about 120 toys to our IHADLA Dreamers during this truly wonderful Holiday Toy Drive!

We are incredibly grateful to have the support of a wonderful school such as Le Lycée and cannot wait for future community services events in which our Dreamers and their students can come together to learn, share, and make a positive impact on others! Kids helping kids teaches our students and others about perspective while providing the opportunity to interact with different students their age. Kids helping kids is a very rewarding activity for any child. IHADLA is always looking for volunteers over the age of 16 to help out our charitable organization.

IHADLA Dreamers Boyle Heights with Le Lycee toy donations
A Dreamer scans the generous selection while Cursta, our program coordinator, and some of the Le Lycee team happily encourage him
IHADLA Dreamers Boyle Heights with Le Lycee toy donations
Some of the boys could not wait to open their awesome new toys and begin playing!
IHADLA Dreamers Boyle Heights with Le Lycee toy donation
A giant plush dog makes Roselyn all smiles!
IHADLA Dreamers Boyle Heights with Le Lycee toy donations
Two of the Dreamers got creative with their kits
IHADLA Dreamers Boyle Heights with Le Lycee toy donations
A Le Lycee volunteer helps Mariana glam up with her flash tattoos
IHADLA Dreamers Boyle Heights with Le Lycee toy donations
Build-it-yourself toys, like this Ninjago Lego set, were very popular among the kids
IHADLA Dreamers Boyle Heights with Le Lycee toy donations
Kids helping kids in action: choosing just one was hard! Some of the Le Lycee students helped our Dreamers make the best choice possible!

We are always looking for volunteers at IHADLA, too!