Seneca Valley is once again a participant in the Toys for Tots charity to collect toys for less fortunate children.

Each year Seneca Valley contributes to the Toys for Tots charity by encouraging students and staff to collect and donate toys to give to local, less fortunate children as Christmas gifts. Seneca has been a participant in the program for several years and strives to continue their tradition this year by once again opening up the opportunity for their students and staff members to donate.

Last year’s 2015 fundraiser raised over a thousand toys on the SV secondary campus alone for underprivileged children to open on Christmas.

However, each year the middle school has donated considerably more than the Senior High School or the Intermediate High School. In an attempt to get a solid head-start on donations, two Toys for Tots donation boxes are currently filled and displayed in the Senior High School lobby by the administrative offices.

Seneca Valley’s Senior High School consistently helps to contribute to this annual event with the help of their student council, who assist in organizing this tradition yearly.

Seneca Valley senior and student council member Nathan Cooper commented on the charity saying, “Toys for Tots has provided toys to disadvantaged children since 1947. Many children are not fortunate enough to receive gifts this year for the holiday season. Please donate so that these children can experience the joy of having a gift to open up on Christmas morning. Any donation is highly appreciated.”

According to Cooper, any new, packaged toy is suggested and appreciated. The charity, however does not accept cash donations and relies solely on the generous toy donations from students and staff members. However, checks can be mailed to the foundation or money can be given to Toys for Tots virtually at http://toysfortots.org/default.aspx .

In fact, Cooper explained that Seneca Valley’s goal this year is to once again raise enough toys to participate in the “pack the bus” event. This is an annual occurrence where the school strives to fill an entire school bus with toys for the Toys for Tots Foundation that will go to local families in need of gifts for the holidays.

Students can participate in this charity by dropping off a toy of their choosing into one of the many cardboard boxes placed around Seneca’s Middle School, Intermediate and Senior High School.

The boxes will be collected later this December.

(Photo provided by KRMD.com)