The student council at Independence High School organized a heartwarming toy drive, collecting over 700 toys within two weeks for local children in need.
The toys collected were donated to local children in the GESD system of care.
“We wanted to ensure the toys went to families that would truly make a difference in our community,” said student council member Christian Lopez.
The toy drive faced logistical challenges, such as coordinating volunteer schedules and organizing a large supply of donations.
“Coordinating everything around everyone’s busy schedules was a bit challenging,” said Ailyn Lopez, a student council member.
The toy collection included a wide range of items, from educational toys and books to stuffed animals, to suit children of all ages.
“We noticed that a lot of the donations were educational toys like books, puzzles, and educational kits, which was awesome to see,” said Tiffany Vu.
The total number of toys collected was over 700.
Ailyn Lopez tells us that an exact number of 713 toys were collected in this successful drive.
The toys made a positive impact on children.
The toys went to a good place, which is the “GESD System of Care”. “It feels good to give to the kids who are in need for holiday spirit”, Vu.
The student council is already thinking ahead to next year’s toy drive.
“For future drives, we’re hoping to start earlier and involve even more people,”, “We’re excited to continue this tradition and make it even bigger next year.”, said Christian Lopez.
A key aspect of the drive was its inclusivity, ensuring that all students could participate regardless of their personal circumstances.
“We wanted to make sure everyone could get involved,” said Vu. Also Ailyn Lopez added, “We made it easy for students to donate toys, books, or even contribute monetarily if they didn’t have a toy to give. We really wanted to make it possible for everyone to be part of something positive.”
The drive not only brought the school community together, but also had an emotional impact on the students involved.
Vu said, “Working together to organize the drive was one of the most rewarding experiences,”
Christian Lopez said, “It was amazing to see how everyone, from students to teachers, pitched in. It showed us the power of teamwork and how much of a difference we can make when we all work together.”
All of the toys collected will be distributed during the Christmas season, ensuring that children in need will receive their gifts in time for the celebrations.
Ailyn said the goal of the toy drive was for the children to receive Christmas gifts since they are children who will not get a Christmas like lots of kids
