by Faith Elseth

Staff Writer

This year, the SGA encouraged students to give back to the community by participating in the Toys for Tots Drive. The Toys for Tots organization delivers new toys to less fortunate children during the holiday season.

“The goal is to encourage the student body to give back to the community, but to make it fun,” SGA sponsor Megan Purdy said.

The goal of Toys for Tots is to help children experience the joy of Christmas, unite members of the community and contribute to better communities in the future, according to toysfortots.org. It started in 1947 when a group of Marine Reserves in Los Angeles distributed 5,000 toys they had collected to needy children. The idea was adopted by the Marine Corps in 1948 and expanded nationally. During the last 62 years, 400 million toys have been distributed to 188 million children.

“There’s such a huge need,” Purdy said. “It’s neat to be able to give back to families that need it.”

Students dropped off new, unwrapped and unopened toys ranging from $3 to $10 dollars between Dec. 1 and 15. 

“I think it’s a wonderful idea because it brightens the spirits of kids so they can have a happy holiday,” freshman Sydney Green said.

As an extra incentive to give, the second period class that brought in the most toys won a breakfast party from SGA. Linda Mancini’s Spanish 4 class brought in the most.

Signs advertising the drive were posted around the school with basic information.  An advertisement about it also came on the Morning Bru.

“It’s not going so well, except for teachers that give extra credit,” junior Diane Diamond said early in the collection process. “I wish more kids were doing it because they wanted to.”

Last December, members of the Marine Corps came to collect the toys and were surprised at the turnout. After adding up all the toys and bagging them, the SGA then helped carry the toys out to the truck. Once all the toys were packed in, it was tough to find anymore room in the truck.

The drive was a success and many children will benefit from it this holiday season.