North Hills holds its Seventh Annual Toy Drive

For the seventh straight year, the North Hills Athletic & Activities Office collected toys for children in the annual Toy Drive, held December 2-12. Donators dropped off their contributions in the athletic office and Mrs. Burnett/Mrs. Smyer’s rooms. Director of the Toy Drive is Ms. Chelle Zimmerman, so I found it quite fitting to ask her a few questions about the Seventh Annual North Hills Toy Drive.

Q: In the seven years of the Toy Drive, roughly how many toys do you believe the event has collected? How many gifts have we 

received this year?

A: If I had to guess, I’d say over 2,000. One year we had over 500 toys, gift cards, etc. I do not remember the specific number, but I do remember that every family who received gifts got an entire bag full. Because of last year’s great success, I would estimate that this year we collected somewhere around 300 gifts.

Q: What happens once the toys have been collected and are ready to go to the families?

Ms. Zimmerman: We team up with “The Elves,” anonymous staff donators, to distribute the gifts to the families who will receive them.

Q: Other than giving gifts, why does North Hills hold this event?

Ms. Zimmerman: Sometimes I think people forget the true meaning of why we celebrate Christmas. We want our students to learn how to give and help and learn the true meaning of Christmas.

On December 22, upon hearing there would not be enough toys collected, Mr. Lisak asked students and faculty to donate additional money and toys to the drive. By the end of the day, they had gathered a total of $555 in cash plus an estimated $200 worth of toys.

Here at North Hills, we look out for one another. The true spirit of the holiday season is to give rather than to receive. The Toy Drive is something special and greatly appreciated by the staff and the families.