Fifth-grade students in Susan Garcia’s class at Lido Elementary School hosted an exciting carnival that supported a worthy cause to help others. The event, titled “Make Wishes Come True,” raised close to $400 for the Birthday Wishes organization that provides “birthday parties in boxes” to children residing in homeless shelters.

On Jan. 11, thanks to families’ donations that were used to obtain supplies, the class transformed the multipurpose room into a fun fair complete with decorations, games and other amusements. Students throughout the school purchased tickets in order to participate in activities such as a tissue box and cup stacking challenges, bean bag and ring tosses, a birthday candle estimation contest and more. Students also displayed facts about homelessness based on their research. Lido spirit buttons were sold the following day as part of the initiative. 

Proceeds are being used to purchase birthday party supplies that will be delivered to the Birthday Wishes office in Hicksville for distribution to homeless shelters. 

The idea for this team effort came about after Ms. Garcia’s class read the book “Fly Away Home” by Evan Bunting, which tells the story of a homeless boy and his father. The students were moved by the very real issues of homelessness and poverty, which affects more than 2.5 million children. They discussed the topic at length, read related articles and eventually decided to hold a fundraiser. They put about a month of planning and brainstorming into the development of the successful carnival.