‘Toys from the Heart’ brings joy to area children
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Many Southeastern Louisiana University student organizations have found that nothing warms the heart more than giving the gift of joy to a young child.
For the eighth consecutive year, Southeastern's Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Gamma Beta Phi honor and service society, and the Student United Way will do just that by giving "Toys from the Heart" to underprivileged children in the local community.
Teaming with Recreational Sports and Wellness, the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs (MISA), and the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, the organizations expect to collect enough toys for 400 children this holiday season.
"This is the eighth consecutive year for the toy drive," said Eric Summers, assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs, "but the student coordinators decided to change the format to benefit selected children in community programs, such as Head Start and the Successful Transitions Program, instead of families registering for toys."
Summers said the students are asking the Hammond community and all Southeastern departments, faculty, staff and students to make a donation of a toy or a monetary donation toward the purchase of a new toy.
New, unwrapped toys may be delivered to donation boxes located in the Student Union Mall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 12-14, Nov 18-21, Nov. 26-29, and Dec. 2-4. Donation boxes will also be located at the MISA office in Mims Hall, room 213, and inside the Pennington Student Activity Center, located at the corner of University Avenue and General Pershing Avenue.
For more information about "Toys from the Heart," contact the MISA office at (985) 549-3850.
