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IUP, Community Action and Aramarck team up to collect Toys for Tots |
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Written by Michele Roseman
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Thursday, 06 December 2007 |
 L.C. Shawn Kyler, Ashley Miller, IUP culinary student and John Zimmerer, IUP academic student, were on hand to help out with collecting Toys for Tots Wednesday. (Photo by Michele Roseman/The Punxsutawney Spirit)
PUNXSUTAWNEY - Christmas is going to be happier for a large number of children this season, thanks to the help of Toys for Tots, IUP-Punxsy, Aramarck and Community Action.
When Community Action Senior Corps R.S.V.P. Director Janeen Love and Aramarck chief-manager Robert Stevens teamed up to put together a special night at IUP for the students and community to bring toys, they weren't expecting the event to be such a huge success.
With the help of culinary baking and pastry student Ashley Miller, Johnstown, and academic student John Zimmerer, New Jersey, Stevens, via IUP's food service company, Aramarck, offered students and the Punxsy community a free prime rib dinner if they brought a toy or a donation. A buffet was set up in the cafeteria along with the Toys for Tots, manned by Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Kyler, Phillipsburg, who represented the US Marine Corps of Ebensburg.
Every table was full and so was nearly every Toys for Tots box.
"We have almost 1,000 toys. We weren't expecting this," said Love.
According to Love, almost 400 children will benefit from the evening's event.
"It's the biggest (in the community) so far," she stated.
She said that even the Wal-Mart site from the previous night had not received as much response. Stevens, who sweetened the public free meal offer with a campus-wide student competition for the most toys donated, said, "It's going very, very well."
IUP-Punxsy student Ciera Britton, Philadelphia, brought a Barbie for a girl and a truck for a boy.
"I think it was a generous thing (for the school) to do. It's a good program and lots of children are going to benefit," she said.
Britton's friend and fellow student, Ashley Brandon-Brown said, "It's a beautiful time - a time for giving."
Students and the Punxsy community filled over eight boxes by the time dinner was over, with an hour still ahead for the event.
Toys for Tots and Community Action are hosting a gift drop-off for the public December 14th at Punxsy's Community Center. Community members can bring donations at any time. For more information, please contact Janeen Love at Community Action at 938-3302, ext. 236.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 07 December 2007 )
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