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Photo by Mike Springer
Connor O'Brien, 9, and his sister Kayla, 11, stand outside their home with some of the toys they have collected in their annual toy drive for Horizons for Homeless Children
FRANKLIN - Twelve-year-old Kayla O'Brien doesn't have a long wish list this Christmas.
She'd rather give to others.
So along with friends and her 9-year-old brother Connor, the seventh-grader started a toy drive to help those less fortunate.
The siblings' charity evolved last winter when Kayla and her mom Ellen came across the wish lists of needy children in People magazine.
"They were asking for beds, friends, education ... things I take for granted sometimes," said Kayla. "I told my mom, 'I want to do this, I want to help, I can't stand it."'
A simple idea of placing tall boxes on the doorstep of their Red Gate Lane home left the O'Briens with more than 500 donated toys to bring to Horizons for Homeless Children, a statewide outreach organization for youngsters without a place to call home.
By distributing fliers, e-mails and spreading the word at Kayla and Connor's schools, Remington Middle School and Parmenter Elementary School, the O'Briens were overwhelmed with the number gifts that piled up.
"It was unbelievable to see how people come and support what they're doing," said Ellen. "I tell them, the most important thing is seeing the goodness of other people along the way."
The O'Briens said they were "barely charged" for the moving-size boxes purchased from Charlie's Tire in Bellingham.
"The owner was so sweet," said Ellen. "Once he heard what the boxes were for, he said that was their donation. They wanted to be involved too."
This year, the four festively gift-wrapped boxes standing waist-high on the O'Brien's front steps are overflowing with dolls, books and art supplies.
With help from "a team of elves" - Kayla and Connor's friends - several tall boxes stand on the steps of four additional homes in town.
The Magermans at 8 Woodhaven Drive, Walshs at 23 Jefferson Road, DiMarinos at 5 Juniper Road, Buccellas at 96 Jefferson Road and Digans at 4 Maple St. are all accepting unwrapped toys on their home's front steps.
On Monday, the group will drop off the toys to Horizons for Homeless Children in Roxbury.
"I like helping little kids less fortunate than us," said Connor, a third grader.
The recipients are grateful for the O'Brien's "behind the scenes work" in the local community.
"We're extremely grateful," said Colette O'Neill of Horizons for Homeless Children. "To have Kayla and her brother involved is extremely critical to us. It helps us furnish kids with toys and art crafts at this time of year when they need it most.
"Without Kayla and her friends and family knowing about us, there are little advocates," said O'Neill. "They're spreading the word."
The lessons in giving back have struck a chord with the entire O'Brien family.
"Mom tells us it's in giving that we receive," said Kayla.
Ellen agreed.
This work "takes them out of themselves and makes them realize there's a bigger picture," she said.
So after the O'Briens drop off the donated toys Monday, they will shift focus to their other charity cause - Project LOL.
The project, which they hope to turn into a nonprofit organization, benefits a school for AIDS orphans in Zambia in Africa.
Kayla jump started Project LOL after seeing poverty stricken children on American Idol Gives Back.
"They couldn't believe what they saw," said Ellen.
"The kids only get one scoop of rice a day - that's less than a quarter of what I eat everyday," she said. "It's not fair."
In its infancy, Project LOL has already sent more than $1,000 to Shitima School by selling T-shirts, candy and lemonade over the summer. Their next goal is to raise enough money to build a playground.
Their cause - LOL All Around the World - originates from Kayla's motto.
"Every child should be able to laugh out loud," said the youngster, clearly wise beyond her years.
"Kayla wants to change the world," her mom said.
Michelle Laczkoski can be reached at mlaczkos@cnc.com or 508-634-7556.
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