Onslow students honor cub scout oath by helping with Parkwood toiletry drive. Here's how to donate.

A couple of Onslow County students and cub scouts are helping the Parkwood Elementary School PTO in collecting toiletries for children in need.

Isabella Thanasouk, 10, and her brother Leonidas, 7, have been helping their mother, Elizabeth, in passing out flyers and collecting donations for Parkwood Elementary School's Care Closet.

The idea came during a PTO meeting at the school, where Elizabeth said a Parkwood teacher suggested starting a Care Closet for children in need of toiletries. Elizabeth added Parkwood's school nurse takes really good care of the students and brought up the idea of also collecting underwear alongside basic toiletries.

"We all were sitting there talking about it and I told them that I would be more than happy to head up passing out flyers," Elizabeth said. "I have seven children, Isabella and Leonidas are my youngest. I've had boy scouts, girl scouts and cub scouts. The girl scouts, one year, raised a bunch of donations for the women's domestic violence shelter by passing out the flyers."

Isabella and Leonidas are both members of Pack 597, and it's important to them to stick to the scout oath - "to help other people at all times." Isabella was actually the first girl to join the cub scouts' group, Elizabeth said. An additional student, Adelina Castellana, helped the Thanasouks with the passing out of the flyers as well.

Elizabeth said her family was sitting at the dinner table one night and she explained the idea the PTO had. She said Isabella jumped at the chance to be involved, adding that when Isabella does something, Leonidas wants to do it, so he was gung-ho too.

The Thanasouk family took to their neighborhood, passing out flyers with Walmart bags attached, asking residents if they'd fill up the bag. Elizabeth told them she'd return a week later to collect them.

For others who are interested in contributing toiletries to the Care Closet, they can be dropped off directly at the school or you can place an order through an Amazon Wishlist that's been created. Everything from clothes to toothbrushes and toothpaste to deodorant is needed.

Once the toiletries are gathered, Elizabeth said the school nurse will have makeup bags available in her office for students in need to come by, fill up the bag with what they need and place it discreetly in their backpack to take home.

"I feel helpful and needed and kind," Isabella said about the opportunity to help her fellow students. Leonidas added that it feels really nice.

Elizabeth is hoping to collect enough toiletries to last the entire school year, but they plan to replenish when stock gets low. She added the school's PTO is amazing for coming up with the idea.

"I've had kids at Parkwood since we moved here from Texas in 2011," Elizabeth said. "So, all of my kids have gone there. I joke that I should have my own parking spot. They are just very passionate about finding ways to help the children in our school district. They came up with a bunch of ideas this year for PTO. When COVID hit, a lot of people couldn't be involved and now that we're able to get back into the schools and stuff, this PTO that we have now is really amazing."

The Thanasouks have always been a giving family, too. Elizabeth said her husband, a retired Marine who teaches at Camp Johnson, used to be very passionate about Toys for Tots and even helped to build outdoor classrooms for the kids' school back in Texas.

"I just want to make sure they know how important it is to give back to the community," Elizabeth added about her kids' involvement.

For those with questions about Parkwood's Care Closet, additional information can be found on the attached flyer.

Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at [email protected].