When Maya Saidel, 8, saw photos of Japanese children who had lost nearly everything in the March earthquake and tsunami, she decided they needed something to brighten their spirits.

With the help of her father, Andrew Saidel, the Gaithersburg girl collected about 850 toys to be delivered to children who live in orphanages in Tohoku, Japan.

Maya’s mother is from Osaka, Japan, and so the family is deeply connected with the tragedy, Andrew Saidel said.

“When I saw them on TV, I felt really bad,” Maya said Wednesday. “And, usually, when I see something like that, I would feel bad, but I would never get to do anything to help. But we actually got to do this.”

Maya, who is going into third grade at DuFief Elementary School in Gaithersburg, spoke on her school’s morning announcements in March and encouraged her classmates to donate toys. The Saidels organized drives at four other schools in Maryland as well.

Students even wrote handwritten notes to send along with their toys.

“We said, I hope this gift makes you smile,” Maya said.

Maya wrote a letter and made a video and a flyer asking All Nippon Airways to help her get the toys to Japan. The company agreed, and the toys are being shipped there now.

Living Dreams, a Japanese nonprofit organization that supports orphanages in the country, will distribute the toys to 19 shelters this summer.

The Saidels go to Japan to see family annually and are visiting until July 19. Maya dropped off the last toy, Buzz Lightyear, to a Living Dreams representative in Tokyo on July 1.

Maya said she felt good about her project.

“I still hope that I can do more to help the world,” she said.