Alpha Kappa Sigma (AKS), CSB’s service based sorority, is currently collecting toys for their holiday appropriate project, Toys-for-Tots.
Toys-for-Tots at CSB did not begin with AKS, but a staff member. Tracey Birr of the CSB/SJU telecommunication department was approached by an area business last year in hopes that she would help out. Tracey was very valuable in helping this business, accumulating 450 toys from campus faculty and staff. This year, she wanted to make a bigger impact by involving the student body.
After contacting multiple on-campus clubs and organizations, AKS responded, volunteering to take this project under their wing. CSB senior and AKS service co-chair, Becka Gross met with Birr before Thanksgiving and the planning process was underway.
“I met with Tracey and she was so passionate about it and it rubbed off on me,” Gross said.
Birr and AKS decided to make an event out of the fundraiser. While toy donations will be collected now through Dec. 14, Santa and his elves will be posing for pictures with students on Dec. 13 from 4:30 p.m.%u20137 p.m. in Gorecki Fireside Lounge.
Deciding to take on Toys-for-Tots seemed like a no-brainer for AKS.
“Toys-for-Tots is a really popular organization and it hit an intimate note with us. It directly aligns with what AKS stands for,” said Arianna Stotz, CSB sophomore and AKS service co-chair.
“It’s all happening really fast, but it’s really exciting,” Gross said.
Clubs, organizations and sports teams are encouraged to attend and make Toys-for-Tots a bonding experience. Gross and Stotz explained that a herd of AKS members shopped as a group the other day in preparation for the event.
“It’s a fun way to get together and do something for a good cause,” Gross said.
Students interested in donating who are unable to make the donating event on Dec. 13 can drop off unwrapped toys in boxes that are placed in CSB Gorecki Lobby, CSB Business Office (Main), and SJU Great Hall.