Students in Dallas and abroad, as well as some four-legged friends, will benefit from a clothing, book, and toy donation drive initiated by a group of girls at the Episcopal School of Dallas Lower School.

Last month, a group of third and fourth grade students banded together to collect clothing, shoes, and books for students in Guatemala and Ascher Silberstein Elementary School in southeast Dallas. The other toys will be taken to local animal shelters. Natalie Amato, a third grade teacher at ESD, says the students developed a system to collect, sort, label, and distribute the items all on their own.

“The students decided together that they wanted to help girls in the community the same age as them.  So, they decided clothes and books were a good idea since those are the things that they enjoy shopping for,” Amato said.

Amato took the clothes to students at Ashcer Silberstein Elementary last weekend. She explained the books will be donated to an all girl’s school in Guatemala in conjunction with a partnership Southern Methodist University has with the Dual Language Institute.

In addition to the clothing and book drive, several students also collected pet food and toys to give to a local animal shelter.

“Some girls just felt so passionate about helping an animal shelter that they also brought in blankets, treats, and pet toys,” Amato said.