The holidays are just over the horizon and ‘tis the season for giving as Texas A&M University-Kingsville hosts a Toys for Tots charity event.
Toys for Tots’ purpose is to distribute toys to the children of parents who have difficulty in purchasing these items for their children. The charity also brings awareness of the less fortunate and allows the community to lend a helping hand. TAMUK will, yet again, assist in taking on the role of Santa Claus for the families of Kleberg and Kenedy counties.
“Each year, it is our hope that students, faculty and staff get involved and participate in this toy drive,” Loreal Robertson, assistant director of student activities, said. “The student organizations who do participate, enjoy the competitiveness of this activity as the organization who donates the most toys receives a sponsorship of up to $150. One year, we collected a little over 1,000 toys to donate.”
The Toys for Tots donation isn’t an exclusive charity to TAMUK, as many other businesses and individuals host their own toy collection drop box to provide support to the families. According to the Marine Toys for Tots website, “With help from countless individuals, local businesses as well as our corporate sponsors, we were able to augment our local toy drives with an additional six million toys valued at $70 million allowing our Marines and volunteers to support all families seeking their assistance.”
The students at TAMUK are also hoping for yet another great turnout for the charity. “Toys for Tots is like one of the well-known charities I hear about around Christmas, and it’s so good to see the community coming together to help those who weren’t able to afford a gift on Christmas,” Georgiana Gallegos, architectual engineering major, said. “Christmas is the time for giving and I feel like with Toys for Tots we have that opportunity to give back.”
TAMUK will continue to assist in collecting toys for the charity throughout the month of November. However, the charity will not stop collecting toys until Dec. 18, so students, faculty and staff will have many opportunities to support those in need this Christmas.
