By Kathryn Reed

It was hard for the four Zephyr Cove Elementary School students to contain their smiles. Giving back feels pretty darn good.

For the second year in a row fourth-grader Alexandra Palant collected toys and stuffed animals to give to youth who are part of the Court Appointed Special Advocates program.

Last year just her class collected items. This year she engaged the student council, which was able to get the entire  school involved.

Ellie Krolicki, Trent Dingman, Caroline Krolicki and Alexandra Palant with the toys the collected for CASA. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Alexandra said her parents have been encouraging her to give to others since she was much younger than she is now.

“There are a lot of kids who aren’t as fortunate as all of us,” Alexandra said.

The council – made up of Ellie Krolicki, Trent Dingman, and Caroline Krolicki – echoed Alexandra’s sentiments. The four brought the toys to the courtroom the afternoon of May 26.

In about a month’s time they were able to collect enough items to fill a large portion of the wall in the family courtroom in the El Dorado County Superior Courthouse in South Lake Tahoe.

Educational games, board games, dollhouses and an array of stuffed animals are ready for someone else to enjoy. Most of the toys are new, with a few slightly used.

The Nevada students are hoping to keep up the collection each year, even when they move on to Whittell High School.

The CASA kids will get to pick out what toys they want when they come to the office. Oftentimes the presiding judge lets a child peruse the display for a toy as well.