Most people remember that one Christmas gift that knocked their socks off as a kid. It might even bring a smile to their faces when they think about it today.
Since 1947, communities have been reaching out to children of families in need to provide kids with the same kind of childhood memory. Auxiliary and Support Services and Georgia State Athletics are teaming up again for their 10th annual Toys for Tots drive. The drive is being held on the Georgia State campus now through Dec. 14.
The Robinson College of Business has already received a few toys from the many collection boxes around campus. Sucheta Chakraborty, MBA student with a concentration in Human Resource Management, helps collect the toys at this location.
Chakraborty said she and the Graduate Business Association (GBA) make announcements in their classes to drop a toy off in the collection bin so that a child who may not receive any presents will have at least one present under the Christmas tree. This is the first year the GBA is doing any kind of community service. Chakraborty said they hope to get many toys and hope the number increases in the following years.
“As of right now we only have about 10 toys,” Chakraborty said. “But we will have a box at our end of semester party on Nov. 30 where we expect to receive about 50.”
According to Chakraborty, one of the simplest things children look forward to during Christmastime is getting to open gifts containing toys. She said it helps a child feel some form of normalcy during the holiday season.
“Toys are pretty cheap and it does not take too much time or money to drop a toy in the collection bin,” Chakraborty said. “I think Toys for Tots is a great way for a person to do some community service and bring some happiness in a child’s life.”
Toys are typically small cars or trucks and dolls. Chakraborty said she’s already given three toys and will be giving more.
Chakraborty said she believes most people are familiar with Toys for Tots and they collect toys during the holiday season, but she doesn’t think they know the background behind Toys for Tots.
Maj. William L. Hendricks founded the drive 65 years ago. Hendricks gathered a group of Marines and collected over 5,000 toys for local children by placing collection bins around the city. Their efforts were so successful in the first year that Toys for Tots was launched as a national campaign the following year.
Bring a toy to the men’s basketball game against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 30, or the women’s basketball game against Kennesaw State on Dec. 2, and receive a voucher for a free ticket to an upcoming basketball game.
“A great toy would be a stuffed animal for a boy or a girl,” Chakraborty said. “Every kid needs a stuffed animal to cuddle with at night.”
