On November 28, 12 members of the R&W and yearbook staffs and adviser Sam Bidleman traveled to help sort and package items for Toys for Tots. This organization, which is run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, collects toys and other items which are given to disadvantaged children for Christmas.
Once the students arrived at the local Toys for Tots location in Lewisburg, they began working after receiving instructions from coordinator Pauline Roberts. Their task was to select items from trucks to makeup kits for the recipient children. “It was sad realizing that these were the only presents these kids were going to receive for Christmas,” says yearbook staff member Kirsten Rabinowitz. “I was glad that I could help them.”
Each child will receive two small and two large gifts plus other items such as books and stocking stuffers. These items are donated by the public or bought by Roberts with donated funds. Although some toys were in abundance, highly-requested items such as Littlest Pet Shop were scarce.
In contrast, the number of needy families continues to grow. “This has been our most demanding year,” says Roberts. “We are waiting for the donations to come in, but with the economy the way it is, I worry about filling the need.”
With this being the case, Toys for Tots and its volunteers are more important than ever.