Members of the Andy Foundation stand in front of their completed mural at Safe Horizon's Lily House. On Sunday, December 4th, a dozen Long Island kids arrived in the Bronx to donate tables, chairs, televisions, school supplies and more to children at Lily House, a newly opened Safe Horizon battered women's shelter.

Rather than spend their Sunday scouring the mall for gifts to put on their wish lists, they furnished and decorated two children's rooms at the shelter, painted a colorful garden mural on the wall, and even set up a Christmas tree with presents underneath. This provided the children living there with a safe and comforting place to stay during the holidays, away from their abusive homes.

The kids, members of the Andy Foundation, (www.theandyfund.com ) a Long Island based not-for-profit, raised over $10,000.00 through bake sales, talent shows, yard sales, bingo and a self-published cookbook to fully furnish both the rooms.

"Leaving home is especially scary for children escaping abuse and violence, and our shelter is their safe haven," said Gordon J. Campbell, CEO of Safe Horizon. "Safe Horizon is touched that these teens would travel to the Bronx on a weekend to ensure that the children served by our program feel at home for the holidays."

James Moore fine tunes his butterfly. The Andy Foundation was established "by kids, for kids," in memory of Andy Palmeri, an 11-year-old who was tragically killed in September 2003 when he was struck by a vehicle while playing tag. Andy's friends, with the help of their parents, established the foundation to give all children regardless of race, religion, or social and economic status a chance for a healthy, safe and happy childhood, and give them a better chance to become successful and productive adults.

Safe Horizon's Lily House provides not only housing, but job assistance, childcare and after school programs to formerly abused women and their children to help them become financially and emotionally independent.

Alex Castronovo, in foreground, Kate Imperio, Caitlyn Moore, Olivia and Caileigh McGoldrick, all of Garden City, begin the mural for the children at Safe Horizon's Lily House, a domestic violence shelter in the Bronx. Adult observing is Laura Moore.