Proving you're never too young to get involved in helping others, Branford siblings Luke and Lily Gagliardi got their elementary school classmates involved in a project that's made a big impression on Community Dining Room (CDR) Executive Director Judy Barron.

The brother and sister led efforts in their classrooms to collect hygiene items to give to people in need who visit CDR.

"Luke got his second grade class involved and Lily got her third grade class involved at Tisko School. Their volunteerism in conducting these collections allowed for us to make over 30 kits to distribute to people in need in the community," said Barron.

Barron said CDR appreciates the efforts of all of the students, parents and teachers who helped out; including Luke's second grade class and teacher Sharon Collett; and Lily's third grade class and teacher Manola Schiavo. The combined classes gathered dozens of boxes of tissues, bars of soap, bottles of shampoo, toothpaste and other hygiene must-haves, bagged them up, and sent them on to CDR, located on Harrison Avenue.

Not-for-profit CDR is based in Branford and provides food, support and companionship to shoreline neighbors from East Haven to Old Saybrook. CDR serves over 4,500 meals each month.

In her role, Barron acts as a client-advocate, working with community agencies, local welfare offices, business and health care providers to identify available resources.

Barron said some people who visit CDR for meals assistance have to cut hygiene items and other luxuries out of their budget.

"We asked for hygiene kits because there are definitely people who visit us who we know would be happy to have these items to take away with them," Barron said.