Kelly Cullen ’13| Social Media Editor

Key Club has organized a second annual toy drive for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation said Advisor Ann Marie Bokatzian.

Boxes have been placed all around the school for students to drop off toys or other items on the list of what can be donated, Bokatzian said.  Students can only donate new toys, games, books and stuffed animals.

The toy drive started Monday, December 3 and ends the Monday, December 17.  The Children’s Hospital has provided Key Club a list of acceptable donations, and the different age groups that can be donated to, Bokatzian said.  A few of the items on the wish list include: craft kits, puzzles, crib gyms, and sippy cups.

President Gaurangi Trivedi ’13, who is a volunteer at Children’s Hospital, came up with the idea to start this toy drive at South.

“I knew from spending time with the kids that they were in high demand for crayons on a daily basis, so I thought it would be nice to donate to the hospital around the holidays when they would need these toys and other donations the most,” said Trivedi.

In order to plan this drive, Trivedi and other Key Club members had to coordinate with volunteer services and establish different committees within the club to deliver and make the donation boxes.

On Tuesday, December 18^th, members of Key Club will sign up to deliver the toys and other donations to the hospital, Bokatzian said.   They will also get a tour around the hospital to see where the donations will end up.

“I know that something that seems so simple and small like this to us is greatly appreciated by the patients who are at the hospital during the holidays”, Trivedi said.   “It is great to be able to provide these toys and donations to help kids get through the holidays.”

Key Club Vice President Rachel Forcillo ’14 helped make boxes, put up posters, and get the word out about the toy drive throughout the school.

“I love looking in the boxes everyday to see what new things people have brought in,” said Forcillo.

Forcillo is looking forward to continuing this toy drive in the future and had a great experience planning it and taking part in it.

“Even though we didn’t get to see the kids receive their presents, it was so cool last year to see how dedicated people were,” said Forcillo.  “You could tell they deeply cared about the children.”