Patrick Leeper, president of the York Chapter of the Student Veterans of America (SVA), left, and Shane Hess, a member of the SVA, put together the collection boxes for the Toys for Tots campaign on campus. Both Leeper and Hess are Penn State York student-veterans and are majoring in information sciences and technology (IST). The toy collection continues through Dec. 9.
Penn State York’s veterans organization, Student Veterans of America (SVA), York Chapter, is sponsoring a Toys for Tots drive on campus. New, unopened, and unwrapped toys will be collected through Dec. 9. The toys, for children ages newborn through 12 years old, will be distributed to less fortunate children in the community through the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in York, Pennsylvania. Community members are welcome to bring donations to the campus.
“SVA is always proud to promote and help out with the Toys for Tots Foundation,” said Patrick Leeper, a student-veteran at Penn State York and president of the Student Veterans of America, Penn State York Chapter. “As a club, we find this event to be important to us because our community has given support to our veterans, and we wanted to give back to our community. We hope to receive generous donations in this holiday season,” he said.
Collection boxes are located throughout the campus and will be prominently displayed at the Dec. 2 viewing of “The Polar Express,” at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) on campus.
“As a club, we find this event to be important to us because our community has given support to our veterans, and we wanted to give back to our community. We hope to receive generous donations in this holiday season.
-- Patrick Leeper, Penn State York student-veteran and president of the Student Veterans of America
In addition to toys for younger children, donations are also accepted for preteens and teenagers. In the past, items purchased for these groups have included, but are not limited to: sporting equipment/bags/balls, books, backpacks, cosmetics, purses, watch/wallet gift sets, bath gift sets, board games, radio control cars/trucks, hand-held electronics, skateboards/helmets, curling irons, hair straighteners and hair dryers.
Last year, the toy drive collected hundreds of toys, and helped make the holiday season a little brighter for many children and adults. A variety of toys were gathered, from board games and footballs to stuffed animals and action figures.
SVA is a national organization sharing best practices, success stories, and supporting one another to further strengthen the student-veteran community. Since SVA’s founding in 2008, more than one million veterans have returned home to pursue a postsecondary degree. SVA focuses on veteran’s welfare to ensure student veterans are supported in their transition to education and employment. Through advocacy, partnerships and alumni support, SVA strives to help all student veterans succeed and contribute to civilian society.
For more information about the York Chapter of the SVA, contact Leeper, president of the SVA York Chapter, at [email protected].
