Operation Yellow Ribbon Care Package Collection ran by the Military Service Office drives donations are pictured. Items that have been collected include boxes of cereal, cookies, complexion products such as sunscreen, and candy canes. - Contributor / Marchella Mazzoni
Rowan students are taking upon the role of Santa Claus and placing gifts under children’sChristmas trees this holiday season through Rowan’s Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) and Military Services Annual Toys For Tots Collection which has been collecting gifts since Nov. 6 and will continue through Dec. 15.
Toys for Tots is an organization dedicated to delivering presents during the holidays to lessfortunate youth in hopes of bringing the joy of Christmas to them. The drive guides students tobring in a new, unwrapped toy for children starting from the age of an infant throughteenagehood to the drop-off locations in Savitz Hall, Business Hall, and Shpeen Hall. Savitz Hall’s binsare located on the second floor and both Business and Shpeen Hall’s bins are displayed whenwalking into each building. The drop-off times are during business hours between 9 a.m. and 4p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.
“I think just knowing that you’re helping other people motivates me because I like to help otherpeople” said Elizabeth Sosnoski, the military services coordinator and school certifyingofficial as well as Rowan’s Toys for Tots ambassador.
This is Rowan’s eighteenth annual Toys for Tots collection while the coordinator Beth Sosnoski’sthirteenth year and they have seen increasing progress each season. They achieved their goalof filling eight boxes full of toys in 2022 and plan to challenge themselves to fill up more boxes thiswinter. The toys that have been donated so far include Pictionary and Monopoly board games,LOL Surprise Dolls, and a construction-themed playset. They have filled about two and a halfboxes full as of Dec. 1.
“It is always a great feeling to see the younger generation taking an interest [to] assist childrenin need who without their assistance those children may not have a Christmas,” voiced thecoordinators of Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots of Gloucester County, Kevin and ShaninBaisch. “Rowan University has always been a huge support to our campaign and extremelygenerous.”
The Rowan Army ROTC program helps with the Toys for Tots collection and along with the drivethe Military Service Office is also collecting care packages in support of Operation YellowRibbon. These care packages aid those who are actively deployed in our military. Carepackages can be dropped off at the Military Services Office in Savitz room 304 and will becollected up through Dec. 15. Items that can be added to these care packages mayinclude trail mix, protein powder, energy bars, chapstick, hand sanitizer, tea, sunflower seeds,and ground coffee. Students’ involvement in donating to organizations has been commended byToys for Tots ambassadors.
“It warms my heart to see college students donating their time and hard-earn money to thecause,” remarked Kevin Mallon, the coordinator of the Marine Toys For Tots Foundation in CapeMay County.
This year for the first time Rowan has made prize baskets that will be drawn in a raffle betweenall students who donate to Toys for Tots. Those who bring in a toy to Savitz on the second floorwill receive a raffle ticket to be entered in a drawing for prize baskets. There are two giftbaskets, allowing two students the chance to win a basket. Included inside both are a Rowant-shirt, a Rowan blanket, and a large box of K-cups. The winners will be called on Dec. 18.The organization aims for students to bring children gifts for Christmas and also givesparticipants a chance to possibly receive a gift of their own.
“[On] the Savitz second floor you’ll see the big Toys for Tots sign and if you bring a toy in we’reactually doing a couple raffles,” said Sosnoski. “You’ll get a ticket to get entered in the raffledrawing…so please bring in the toys.”
All Rowan students, local businesses, faculty members, and community members who areinterested in donating to the Toys For Tots organization can bring in children’s gifts includingunused books and unopened toys. The drive will accept dolls and LEGO sets for example aswell as children’s books themed around Christmas. Places to find toys to bring in to donateinclude Target, WalMart, BigLots, and Marshall’s. All donations will be accepted as long as theyare unwrapped and unopened toys for ages ranging from young children to adolescents.
“This is a great opportunity for college students to get involved around this time of the yearbecause they are making a difference in people’s lives not just around the holiday season but allyear-round,” expressed Atlantic County Toys for Tots representative Courtney Rice.
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