A toy drive organized by a San Bernardino engineering company spread holiday cheer among the children of financially strapped students from Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College in California.
The drive was organized to help disadvantaged students enrolled in public assistance programs at the two community colleges. These students wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford gifts for their children, said Crafton Hills program director Rejoice Chavira.
‘Give Something Back’
The toy drive was conducted by engineering firm Design West Engineering. According to associate Jeremy Richard, the company would normally set aside funds to purchase holiday gifts for clients every year. However, this year, the firm decided to use the fund to purchase toys for children whose parents have been hit by the economic recession.
“San Bernardino is the most underserved population in the Inland Empire. And we want to use this project to give something back,” he added.
In a similar effort to spread holiday cheer, students from Florida International University (FIU) also arranged a toy drive earlier this month. Cheerleaders and employees at FIU dressed as Santa and his elves dropped off gifts to kids at the drive-through celebration.
“It’s been a very challenging year. So, we want to show our commitment to our community with our toy drive. That’s what makes us a great college to work for,” said El Pagnier K. Hudson, senior vice president of the college’s division of human resources.