Student Government Association Public Relations Officer Adaline McCullick, a sophomore, retrieves a toy from the Toys For Tots bin on Nov. 19. The SGA organized the Toys for Tots initiative at Clarke Central High School in order to gather toys for children in Athens. “We included (Toys for Tots) in our newsletter and I asked Mr. (Christian) Barner to push it out to our website,” SGA sponsor LaToya Hill said. “Once we get the word out to parents, we usually get a great deal of support.” Photo by Anna Shaikun
The Student Government Association at CCHS is working with Toys for Tots and the U.S. Marine Corps to donate toys to children in Athens.
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and for many kids, that means toys. But when toys are few and far between, the Clarke Central High School community can turn to the Student Government Association for help.
The CCHS SGA cooperated with the U.S. Marine Corps to bring Toys For Tots, a toy donation program, to CCHS. The SGA will be accepting donations until Dec. 17, when the toys will be distributed by the Marine Corps. To make donating easier, SGA sponsor LaToya Hill created an Amazon wishlist that allows donors to buy toys online.
“On Amazon, (SGA lists) toys by age, and I picked an array of toys because Toys for Tots supports kindergarten through 12th grade. I tried to stay below a $50 price point,” Hill said. “(Due to) the fact that (donors) don’t have to go out and buy anything, I think (the initiative) will be successful.”
On Nov. 11, the U.S. Marine Corps brought the donation boxes to CCHS. This service is also offered to many other locations throughout the United States.
“(Toys For Tots) is a national effort, so given their reputation for helping kids all over the country, I thought it would be a neat idea for (the SGA) to support. And (I like) the fact that these toys go to kids in our community,” Hill said. “They will support kids right here in the Athens area. That’s a good deal for us to help each other.”
“(Toys For Tots) is a national effort, so given their reputation for helping kids all over the country, I thought it would be a neat idea for (the SGA) to support. And (I like) the fact that these toys go to kids in our community. They will support kids right here in the Athens area. That’s a good deal for us to help each other.”
— LaToya Hill,
SGA sponsor
SGA Public Relations Officer Adaline McCullick, a sophomore, has seen the effects of Toys for Tots and is excited to start the initiative at CCHS.
“I’ve seen, on social media, people giving out the toys and how happy the kids are when they get them,” McCullick said. “I think it’s a really good way to serve the community because we have lots of underprivileged kids in our town. It’s a great way to give them happiness around the holidays.”
