Feeling grateful and especially giving during the holidays, Hailey Swor proved one child can make a big difference.The Wright City West Elementary student penned a letter to her principal but was uncertain about her work, so she referred to writing teacher Lindsey Ferrell for a proofread. Amazed at the content and spirit of the letter, Ferrell urged her young pupil to move forward.“It was kind of a proud teacher moment,” said Ferrell. “I told her I’d read her letter and revise it, and it was so persuasive and well written, I told her to take to (the school principal) immediately.”Hailey was looking for a way to help others. Her idea was to hold a toy drive.“I know my family gets us a lot of presents, and I’m very thankful for it,” said Hailey. “There are kids who don’t get as much, and I wanted them to have as good of Christmas as we did.”She wasn’t exactly sure how it would be orchestrated or if the idea would even be accepted. But Principal Patrick Wallace loved it, and encouraged the fifth-grader to make her generous idea a reality.“It was awesome, because it came completely from a student, and she led the whole thing,” said Wallace. “She did all the work, and it was purely her idea. Hailey just exemplifies what every student at West does.”Hailey went and spoke with each class in the building, rallying them behind her cause. She and her fellow students at West Elementary pulled together 230 toys for children whose holidays were impacted by health setbacks.“I felt joyful and grateful, because they agreed to help and showed kindness through what they were doing,” said Hailey.A few days before Christmas Hailey delivered the toys to children at the Ronald McDonald House at Mercy Hospital St. Louis.“People in the hospital may not have a lot of money for Christmas due to hospital bills,” said Hailey. “That’s the motivation behind why we did this.”She says the response was amazing and really helped her understand the impact a small idea can have if it is acted upon.“It was pretty inspiring because all these children had smiles on their face,” said Hailey. “Even though not in the greatest situation, they still had joy being where they are.”Hailey says she would love to continue the toy drive if it could be orchestrated in the middle school, where she will be attending next year.Wright City School District logo