The Kane County division of Toys for Tots, a Marine Corps Reserve foundation, continued to see Kaneland students volunteer throughout the season, specifically those from the National Honor Society (NHS). Former Kaneland High School social studies teacher Javier Martinez is also wrapping up his second season as the coordinator of Kane County Toys for Tots, which ends Dec. 19.
Toys for Tots collects new, unwrapped toys for economically disadvantaged children ages 14 and under to be delivered before Christmas. The Kane County group distributes the toys to nonprofit organizations within the county to give to children in need. According to their website, kanecounty-il.toysfortots.org, they distributed 21,955 toys and supported 8,741 children last year. This year, Martinez anticipates helping a similar amount of kids.
“My goal is to give each child two toys this year, plus a stocking stuffer,” Martinez said. “The minimum is one, [but] I hope to be able to give two – a big toy and a small toy – plus a stocking stuffer to every one of the kids who is registered.”
Last year, 30 Kaneland NHS members recorded a total of 65.5 volunteer hours at Toys for Tots. NHS adviser Jennifer Sayasane understands why high schoolers like volunteering there.
“I think high school students, in particular, like the idea of helping kids,” Sayasane said. “They know that these gifts stay in their communities, and they’re going to kids, so they are all for supporting that.”
Sayasane also likes that it’s a former Kaneland teacher running it.
“I like that personal connection, knowing that this is somebody that I respect and somebody that I can trust having our kids doing meaningful things,” Sayasane said.
Martinez said that he will email the Kaneland High School Director of Athletics and Activities each year to contact the school’s coaches and club sponsors and encourage them to have their students participate. The Kaneland boys track and field team is one that has volunteered in the past.
This year, the warehouse is located in the Geneva Commons, where the old Forever 21 store used to be. Here, toys are sorted by age groups and separated by destination. Senior Stacy Layton, who has volunteered for Toys for Tots the past two years, appreciates the mission of the foundation.
“Organizing things like that is fun, and it’s also nice because you’re doing it to help other people,” Layton said. “I think it’s really cool that they will put in all of the effort that it takes to provide for people so that they can have a good holiday season.”
