By: Kelsey Peachey

The Student Senate at Belleville Mennonite School has organized a Toys for Tots drive at their school again this year. Toys for Tots began in 1947 when a group of marine reservists collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. Toys for Tots still collects and gives toys to needy children. Last year Toys for Tots was very successful at BMS, gathering about 190 toys. The students in the middle and high school at BMS will be collecting new unwrapped toys until December 22.Anyone from the community can bring new unwrapped toys into the office at Belleville Mennonite School and they will be added to the toys that have already been collected.

When asked why the Student Senate at BMS decided on doing Toys for Tots again this year President Megan Laub responded, “Toys for Tots is a great organization that allows people to give to others less fortunate. Being able to contribute this year is a heartwarming feeling knowing what we are willing to give will bring joy to a child’s face”.

Toys for Tots is still run by the Marine Corps and is a great organization for Belleville Mennonite School to be involved with. “The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December each year and distribute those toys as gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted” as quoted from the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

Students at BMS have many types of service projects that they do each year through the senate such as soup can collections, Toys for Tots, and a penny drive to raise money for breast cancer research. When asked how it feels to help needy children in our community through Toys for Tots freshman Alycia Hoye said “It makes me feel good to give back to the kids in our community who aren’t as fortunate to have as much as I do. It makes me happy to supply them with toys to enjoy”.