Toys for Tots contributions needed by December 9
 Karen Ghezawi has firsthand knowledge of how hard Christmas can be for some children.
“One year, when my mother and father split up and Mother was trying to get back on her feet, if it hadn’t been for the Empty Stocking Fund, we wouldn’t have had a Christmas.
“Toys for Tots is near and dear to my heart,” said Ghezawi, who works in the Physical Plant. “This program brings lots of joy each year to our local children who would not otherwise get a gift from Santa.”
Every year, the Pellissippi State student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals collects for Toys for Tots—and for the past 15 or so Christmas seasons, Ghezawi has taken part. In addition to donations from faculty, staff and students, Ghezawi says, people from the community brought presents to campus last year.
The AITP chapter is accepting new, unwrapped toys through December 9, according to faculty sponsor Gitti Negahban.
An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 East Tennessee children are projected to receive something from Toys for Tots this Christmas, says Marine Corps Sgt. Jeff Gladden, coordinator of Toys for Tots for the 11 counties surrounding and including Knox.
Presents are needed for a wide range of ages, from babies to 15-year-olds, with older children served on a case-by-case basis. The groups most likely to be forgotten are 1- and 2-year-olds and teenagers 12 and up. Ideal gifts for older children are board games, inexpensive MP3 players, makeup kits, blow-dryers and bath and body sets, Gladden says.
Donations may be dropped off at any of the four campus locations:
Pellissippi Campus
- Alexander Building: 108
- Goins Building: 162, Cafeteria, second floor next to the copier
- Educational Resources Center: entrance
- McWherter Building: 149A, 149C, 234, 254, 329
- Physical Plant
- Bagwell Center for Media and Art
Division Street Campus
Blount County Center
Magnolia Avenue Campus
For more information, contact Karen Ghezawi at 694-6618 or Gitti Negahban at 694-6467.
|
