Students push ToyFest 2000

By Lauren Goodman
Daily Forty-Niner

This holiday season, the students of communications at Cal State Long Beach are sponsoring their first toy drive, ToyFest 2000.

The drive, which started Nov. 7th, is scheduled to run through Dec. 5th.  The goal of the drive is to collect 3,000 unwrapped toys or books, in addition to monetary donations or grocery store gift certificates to donate to the Long Beach Chapter of the Interval House.  The Interval House has served as a safe haven, for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse and violence, for the past twenty years.

Will Townsend, senior communications major, got involved with ToyFest 2000 through an upper division communications class at CSULB called Event Planning.  This is the first semester that the class has been offered and according to Townsend, they have already overcome a lot of obstacles.

"This is our first chance to get out and really do something for the community," Townsend said. "It's for the students, by the students, to give back to the people right away."

Although the students have accomplished a lot, according to Townsend, they have not received enough toys yet.

"It's still pretty slow, we don't have too much material," Townsend said.

There are various locations throughout the university that have drop boxes for toys, such as the University Student Union, the campus bookstore and both university libraries.

Townsend and fellow classmates have been doing short presentations in the beginning of various classes to motivate students to donate to the drive.

Although students are busy and might not have the time to go out and buy a toy for the drive, Townsend said even a dollar can help.
 
"Students can donate a dollar or an unwrapped toy, what ever is easier," Townsend said. "In my last class I collected $40, every little bit helps."

Jason Mitchell, junior English major, was reluctant, at first, to give up his time and money to the toy drive.  When he learned the drive was for children and single mothers his attitude changed.

"I don't have any money to donate and I'll probably forget to bring something," Mitchell said. "But if it's for kids I'll donate money to the drive.  I'll totally help out."

As a "thank you" to all the people who have donated to the drive and helped out, the month-long drive will conclude with an afternoon of free food, music and entertainment. The event will be held at the campuses West Terrace the last day of the drive, from noon until 3 p.m. The celebration will also include prize drawings of donations from various local businesses.