Church Street PTA Wraps Gifts To Raise Money In White Plains

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Karen Hamlin wrapped gifts outside Barnes & Noble in the City Center on Thursday, tip jar in tow, to raise money for the Church Street School PTA in White Plains.

Karen Hamlin wraps gifts outside Barnes & Noble to raise money for the Church Street School PTA in White Plains.
Photo Credit: *Brian Donnelly*

Karen Hamlin (left) and Jen Demilio (right) wrap gifts Tuesday.
Photo Credit: *Brian Donnelly*

Barnes & Noble allows nonprofits to do gift wrapping to raise money.
Photo Credit: *Brian Donnelly*

by Brian Donnelly

12/11/2012 5:45 p.m.

Barnes & Noble offers its customers free gift wrapping but often doesn't have the time to do so during the busy holiday season. Therefore, the book store allows nonprofit groups, such as school PTAs, to set up outside its White Plains location, do gift wrap and collect donations.

Hamlin, mother of a kindergartner and a fourth-grader at Church Street School, said the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society had done it previously. She, fellow parent Jen Demilio and high school volunteer Angelica DiIoril gift wrapped Sunday and Tuesday and will return Christmas Eve.

"We love it," Hamlin said. "We like being a part of the community. It's nice to be out and about while people are shopping."

DiIoril, 16, volunteered to earn community service hours through the high school's Key Club, which is dedicated to finding community service opportunities in White Plains. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, which requires at least 40 hours of community service.

The Church Street School PTA also held a book fair Sunday at Barnes & Noble, which donates a percentage of the sales made to the PTA.

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