TAKEN BY STORM SIXTH-GRADER SPEARHEADING TOY DRIVE.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - It started with a hand-printed note, copied and passed through the neighborhood with the help of mom, dad and friend Lindsay Espinosa.

When Canyon Country sixth-grader Breana Teller saw the plight of young victims of Hurricane Katrina, she knew she could do something to take their minds off their situation - and replace some of the things they lost. So she asked her friends and neighbors to donate toys.

``In (an) effort to help the children affected by Hurricane Katrina, I would like to send as many toys as possible. I am asking for your help so that we can reach a goal of 100 toys,'' she wrote on the flier that found its way down to such places as Starbucks and Wells Fargo Bank.

Before she knew it, Teller was on the receiving end of a steady stream of toys and cash donations for the children. A large tin cauldron on the family's Canyon Country front porch would be emptied, only to be mysteriously filled the next time Breana looked out the front door.

``I knew one toy would make a difference,'' she said. ``I thought it would be nice to help kids that don't have anything right now.''

Donations included gifts for children of all ages, from basic preschool toys to radios and calculators for older children. A woman called Breana's mother and said her granddaughter wanted to donate all her stuffed animals.

``There's a box here full of Beanie Babies,'' Breana's mom, Melissa, said. ``There are so many people who have been touched by this. This brings out the best in people.''

Breana pulled a large teddy bear from one of 45 boxes packed full of items. Around its neck was a ribbon and a note: ``We are from the Ledbetter family. Please take us to the Kids of Katrina.''

Another note, dropped anonymously into the tin bucket, reads ``Breana, you are a blessing in this world.''

The quiet brunette with the bouncy, curly ponytail takes such comments in stride. Her mother revealed that the girl often takes birthday money and donates it to the local animal shelter, waiting anxiously for the day when she's old enough to be a volunteer.

``She's always thinking of other people,'' Melissa said.

Philanthropy seems to be a family value, as an upcoming vacation to the Smoky Mountains this month has been changed to a trip to Biloxi, Miss. The family hopes to spend a week volunteering, offering help to the workers who have been going nonstop since the disaster.

``I'm really excited,'' Breana said. ``I've already got three bags packed of books, toys and shoes to take them. I don't want to go empty-handed.''

``We're hoping to do some hands-on helping, so she can see how what she's done has affected other people,'' her mother said. ``We can always go to the Smoky Mountains. Right now they need us in Mississippi.''

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

HOW TO HELP

To help Breana Teller get her donations to the Gulf Coast, call [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Breana Teller, 11, of Canyon Country has collected hundreds of toys and other gifts to give to Hurricane Katrina victims.

(2 -- color) Sixth-grader Breana Teller sent out this flier, which resulted in an outpouring of donations for Hurricane Katrina kids.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

Box:

HOW TO HELP (see text)