Campus News - Spartan Daily

December 03, 2004

UPD organizes holiday toy drive for the needy
Annual event serves hundreds of families
By Yasuyo Nagata
Daily Staff Writer
December 03, 2004

Around this time of the year, many children are excited thinking about what Christmas presents they will receive from Santa Claus. At the same time, many parents may get headache while trying to fulfill their children's requests.

However, some children may not receive Christmas presents.

Since 1991, the University Police Department has held an annual holiday toy drive to collect both toys and money donations from people and deliver them to some local children from low-income families, said Claire Kotowski, an administrative analyst at the campus police.

The campus police have set up 21 toy donation points at different campus buildings.

When the program started, there were about 50 families who received presents, Kotowski said.
" But now we have about 250 families," she said.

Since there are some low-income families around SJSU, the campus police feel they need to do something for those families, Kotowski said.

When Sgt. Jenny Pak delivers the presents to low-income families, she said she often sees sad situations.

" Even though we work in this area, we don't see what kind of conditions families are in," Pak said.
" Sometimes when we deliver, we see two to three families (that) live in one-bedroom apartments."
The campus police receive the low-income family list from local elementary schools, such as Lowell Elementary school, said Rosie Alvarez, a lobby service coordinator for the campus police.

Additionally, some people come directly to the UPD offi ce to sign up on the list to receive the presents.
" It's word of mouth," Alvarez said. Some people, who received presents in the past, tell others about the program, she said.

In addition to toys, the campus police help to serve food to low-income families and homeless shelters.
Every year, campus police receive about $1,000 from private and group donations, Kotowski said.

To avoid having too many toys for only one gender, campus police use donation money to buy more toys for the other gender, Pak said.

Usually, some fraternities and sororities collect toys to donate to campus police, Kotowski said.

Currently, campus police have collected gifts for at least 700 children, but the number of gifts is expected to increase by the delivery date of Dec. 11, Alvarez said.

Campus police provide presents for infants to12-year-olds, therefore campus police always try to make sure they have a variety of presents to serve different ages, Pak said.

Toys should be new or like new, but new toys are preferred, "because everybody's concept of 'like new' is different," Kotowski said.

Campus police check the gifts from donors before they wrap them, so potential donors don't need to wrap the gifts when they donate, Pak said.

On the day of the Christmas presents' delivery, two members of UPD dress up as Santa Claus. One Santa Claus will deliver presents, while the other Santa Claus stays at the UPD office for children who will pick up the presents, Pak said.

When people from UPD deliver the gift to the some apartment complexes, some children, who didn't sign up for gifts, often request to get presents, Pak said.

" Usually, we have extra toys that we take with us to hand out to those kids," she said.

Children who come to the UPD office will have a chance to take a picture with Santa Claus, Pak said.
" Most of them aren't able to afford taking a picture with Santa Claus," Kotowski said. "At the mall, it costs about $7 or more."

However, taking a picture with a UPD Santa Claus is free, Alvarez said.

Because many people contribute with donations and their time, the holiday toy drive is able to continue, Pak said.

There are about 150 to 200 people, including donors and volunteers, who are helping with this program, Kotowski said.

People from different parts of the university help with the holiday toy drive, Pak said.

Facilities Development and Operations donates some equipment, Spartan Shops offer to allow UPD employees and volunteers to use the company's warehouse and Spartan Catering helps provide food that UPD delivers to the families, Pak said.

Usually, students from some fraternities, sororities and the residence halls are great helpers, Kotowski said.

Pak said campus police appreciate all people who help them.

Even though some low-income families want to celebrate Christmas, they need to spend money on rent rather than children's Christmas presents, Kotowski said.

However, if those families receive food and toys for children, they are able to have a nicer holiday, she said.

Liza Rios, a payroll coordinator for campus police, said she donates some toys every year, but this year, she's helping the holiday toy drive.

Rios said when she was donating toys, she never thought about how much effort is put into the drive.
" Now I look behind the scenes, there (is) a lot of work and need," she said.

" For some people, it is just a $10 toy," Pak said. "For those children and families who received help, it could be a lifetime memory."

When Alvarez was a little girl, she used to receive toys from some other organizations, she said.
" Now I'm able to give back," Alvarez said. "That's my whole goal to give back to people who can't."
There may be some people who might not be able to provide presents for their children, but they still deserve to have nice holidays, Rios said.

" The little help that we are giving makes such a great impact for some kids," Pak said.