FSC Rams Lacrosse Players Deliver Over 100 Toys To Children

BOHEMIA, NY — This holiday season, over 35 college lacrosse players traded their sticks for Santa hats to give children with intellectual and other developmental disabilities a Christmas to remember, according to AHRC Suffolk.

Amidst studying for finals and training in the off-season, the Farmingdale State College lacrosse team shopped for over 100 gifts, purchased them and wrapped them to put smiles on the faces of students at AHRC Suffolk’s Seiff Educare Center.

"I’ve been doing it for a few years now and a lot of team members who graduate come back to do it," senior and team captain John McMahon said via press release.

Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted the kids, who range in age from 3 to 21 years old, and hand delivered a gift to each of them to tell them they had been a good boy or girl this year.

Students also received lacrosse shirts with head coach Sean Chamberlain saying "it’s all for the kids."

Giving to others is something Chamberlain learned as a child: "My mother always gave to charities, and when she passed away I wanted to do something to carry on her spirit of generosity."

Su Roesler, who is the education coordinator at the Educare Center, says "anyone can drop off toys, but to see the joy in the players’ eyes as they spend time going classroom to classroom, interacting with the students and learning about their unique abilities, is the most rewarding part."

Photos

All photos courtesy of AHRC Suffolk