St. Mary’s Armenian Church grade 5-6 students making their donation boxes for their fundraiser. Clockwise from front: Rose Ariyan, Mihran Maldjian, Chris Stepanian, Azniv Basralian, Anna Hallajian, Armen Hallajian, Genevieve Zakian.
LIVINGSTON, New Jersey—Ten-year-old Azniv Basralian wanted to do something special for those less fortunate this Christmas season and she asked her Sunday School class to join her. Azniv’s father, Joseph Basralian, who teaches a fifth and sixth grade class at St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church in Livingston, New Jersey, suggested having a bake sale with proceeds going to Armenian organizations — one of which would be the Armenian EyeCare Project. The class was thrilled with the idea and Azniv and her classmates got to work right away.
With a table topped with culinary delights — everything from cookies and pies to savory dips and creamy soups — the Sunday School class placed a donation box next to each food item. People attending the bake sale were asked to place a donation in the box next to their favorite food.
When asking Azniv why she chose the Armenian EyeCare Project as one of the organizations to support, she said she realized how important it is to give people in Armenia the opportunity to receive eye care just like she does.
Azniv’s donation letter
“I have to wear glasses that I need for close-up reading and before I got them I didn’t understand why it was hard to read and never really knew what the problem was,â€
