The Aliso Niguel Boys Soccer Team hosted a Toys for Tots drive on Monday, Dec 5 at Wolverine stadium during their home game against Laguna Beach. This year is the first year that the team has held a toy drive and the event has proven to be a beneficial way to represent our school by giving back to the community.
Manager of the event Debbie Nobles, a booster and team mom for the boys varsity soccer team, states that, “this is our first year doing this fundraiser. We decided to take part in helping raise donations to Toys for Tots because Quality Motors is one of our sponsors and they do toys for tots every year, so we thought that would support one of our sponsors in this way”
Toys for Tots is an organization that was founded in 1947 to help the children of low income families receive toys during the holiday season. The program was started by U.S. Marine Major Bill Hendricks and his wife Diane Hendricks. They wanted to donate toys to a program that was directed toward children in need, but could not find any organizations.
This inspired them to make their own organization, which resulted in Toys for Tots. The organization was officially adopted as a United States Marine Corps Reserve program in 1991 and has been annually beneficial to the less fortunate children of America during Christmas time.
The program is one of the most successful toy programs in the United States and raises an average of 18 million toys each year. With the assistance of local welfare agencies and church groups, the program distributes the toys to an estimated seven million children around the United States.
Toys for children zero to two are in great need by the program due to their high demand. If you are able to donate to the Toys for Tots organization this holiday season you can visit the Toys for Tots website and find locations to go and drop off unwrapped toys to local Toys for Tots donation spots. Toy for Tots also allows you to donate toys to their virtual toy box located on their website. Any donations are highly appreciated by the organization and it is an easy way to spread joy this holiday season.
Gayvn Nobles (12), one of the team captains on the varsity soccer team states, “I’m hoping this toy drive is the start of a tradition with the boys soccer program”
Nobles expressed his hopes that this will be carried on by future team managers and team captains as an annual event for the Aliso boys soccer team during “the season of giving”
This year the soccer team was successful at raising more than fifty toy donations for the Toys for Tots program;, which will be donated and gifted to local boys and girls during this holiday season. Toys for Tots is an easy and perfect way to show kindness and bring joy to the less fortunate children in our community at time.
