A Falmouth teen is working to ensure every child has a happy holiday season. Tilly Peet, 17, has organized a toy drive at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, encouraging New England Patriots fans to donate unwrapped toys, dolls, and games to her effort. For Peet, the toy drive is a way to pay it forward to help children in need.

Peet remembers the challenges her family faced in 2019 when her older brother was hospitalized for mental health challenges. Her mom took a leave from work to care for him, and the family’s finances were tight. Her family might not have had a merry Christmas without the help of others who donated toys.

In addition to her toy collection efforts at Gillette Stadium, Peet has launched a toy drive at Sturgis Charter School (East Campus), where she’s a member of the school’s Key Club. Items donated at the school will be given to families receiving services from Hands of Hope, a nonprofit services organization in Hyannis. Peet also held a bake sale to raise money to purchase toys.

Since 2019, Peet has championed philanthropy, leading community service projects on Cape Cod. She serves on the Project 351 Alumni Leadership Council and volunteers at Camp Sunshine in Maine, where children with terminal illnesses participate in a summer camp experience.

When asked by WBZ-TV CBS Boston about the feeling she hopes to instill in a child who receives a toy this holiday, Peet said, “I hope they feel they deserve this and that they can see how much they are cared for no matter what situation they’re in. That they know they’re loved and that they matter and have this magic of Christmas. I hope they understand how important they are.”