Sixth Grader Honored for Care Packages
Anaya Sanasie, a sixth grader at Allendale Columbia School, is being recognized for assembling care packages for people facing homelessness.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Anaya Sanasie, a sixth grader at Allendale Columbia School, used her own money to assemble care packages for people facing homelessness. She is being honored through the Do the Right Thing awards program in Rochester.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights a young resident's direct effort to help people in need in the Rochester community. It also draws attention to a local awards program that honors students and residents for good deeds.
The Do the Right Thing awards have been held by the Rochester Police Department since 1995, and nominations must cover a deed completed within the prior year. Any K-12 student in a Monroe County school is eligible, but the total number of packages Anaya assembled is not specified.
The players
Anaya Sanasie
A sixth grader at Allendale Columbia School who assembled care packages for people facing homelessness using her own money.
Rochester Police Department
The Rochester, New York law enforcement agency that has administered the Do the Right Thing awards since 1995.
The details
Anaya filled the packages with snacks, water, socks and other essentials and kept them in her parents' car to hand out to people in need. She also asked to hand out care packages for her birthday instead of receiving gifts, and has involved family and friends in sharing them.
Timeline
Early childhood: Anaya carried bags on neighborhood walks to pick up litter.
Anaya's birthday: she requested to hand out care packages instead of receiving gifts.
1995: the Rochester Police Department began holding the Do the Right Thing awards.
Philanthropy Trend
The Rochester Police Department's Do the Right Thing awards, held since 1995, recognize local residents for good deeds and extend to students in grades K-12 across Monroe County. Anaya Sanasie's care-package effort fits this long-running local pattern of honoring community giving.
Any K-12 student in a Monroe County school can be nominated for a Do the Right Thing award if the good deed occurred within the past year. Anyone over 18 can submit a nomination form for a deserving young person in the community.
The takeaway
Small acts of service, like assembling snacks and essentials for people experiencing homelessness, can make a real difference in a neighborhood. Residents who know a deserving student can submit a nomination for the local awards program.
Further reading
Explore more local giving stories in Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHEC.
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