Kids give to kids, spreading holiday cheer with toys
Once the toys reach Kapco, they are sorted in the hallways and collection rooms. “The entire area is filled with about a quarter million board games and enough dolls to populate a small city. It is really spectacular,” Matt Gresham, junior, said.
‘Tis the season for joy; ’tis the season for toys. ‘Tis the season for ugly Christmas sweaters, eggnog and beautifully lit trees. ‘Tis the season for giving, and if the window display in the counseling office is any indication, the holiday spirit of generosity has certainly extended into Homestead.
Stacks of new toys line the windows of the office, ready to fill a child’s heart with joy on Christmas morning. These toys come from Homestead students and faculty who have donated as part of the toy drive for the Kapco “Kids to Kids Christmas” event.
“Each year, Kapco asks several school districts around the area to collect toys for their drive,” Matt Gresham, junior, said. “Student Council has been more than happy to step in and help out.”
The donated toys go to less fortunate families around the Milwaukee area who are not able to give their kids Christmas presents. “There’s so many kids out there who are less fortunate and I think as a community we need to step back and appreciate how lucky we are,” Reiels said.
According to Mrs. Dawn Pfaff, student council adviser, “They targeted schools because this is all about kids giving to kids. Our students were looking for a new opportunity for community service around the holidays and it worked perfect.”
Students and faculty can “donate toys at lunch to the table right in front of the cafeteria; there will be a couple student council kids sitting at a table for each lunch period.”
The Student Council supports Kapco’s annual Kids to Kids Christmas by helping donate to their toy drive. “Our goal is 250 toys (that would be 20% of our students giving),” Mrs. Dawn Pfaff, science teacher, said.
Twinkle Dutta, senior, said. New, unused and unopened toys will be accepted before school in the guidance office or at lunch until Dec. 12.
“Our goal is 250 toys (that would be 20% of our students giving),” Mrs. Pfaff said. Donating toys is not the only way to get involved with and spread the word about the drive. There is also a door-decorating contest, spirit dress-up days and ways to make a financial donation as well.
“Students can drop their extra change and donate money during lunch,” Grishma Reddy, senior, said. “Just look for a student council kid sitting at the donation table. Other than that, participate in the door decorating contest and spirit week to celebrate and spread the holiday spirit.”
Students can donate toys at lunch or before school in the guidance office until Dec. 12. The free Kids to Kids Christmas family event at Kapco in Grafton will take place on Saturday, Dec. 13 and will feature crafts for kids, chances to donate toys, live reindeer, complimentary food and hot chocolate, and more holiday events.
On Dec. 13, all of the donated toys will be on display at the “Kids to Kids Christmas” event at Kapco, Inc. in Grafton with a total reaching “over 20,000 presents,” Erin Reiels, senior, said. “You will walk in and think you are in the North Pole. There will be a ton of activities going on, celebrating the holiday spirit.”
“Making sure one child has a present to open is a very heartfelt and kind action that I think every one of Homestead’s students should feel obliged to partake in,” Dutta said.
“Put down the Starbucks money and go out and buy a toy,” Reiels said. “I promise you that you won’t regret it.”
Click here to see an interview with Erin Reiels from 620 WTMJ.
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