Since 2007, Dunbar’s Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) has sponsored a toy drive to collect donations for the UK Children’s Hospital.
The purpose of the drive is to take the burden off families to buy presents during the holiday season. In addition to time restraints, some families also experience medical debt. This simple gesture from the community allows these families to give their children the small joy of the season.
Once the toys arrive at the hospital, families are either given toys when they enter or are allowed to shop around their toy collection and select toys for their children.
Dunbar media arts teacher and STLP co-sponsor, Mrs. Wendy Turner, emphasized the importance of events like these for the Dunbar community. “The toy drive creates a sense of belonging among students. Kids who wouldn’t be in the same circles come together for a project like this, and that’s what makes the Dunbar spirit so special.”
Kelsey Bruner, from the UK Philanthropy department, attended the event. She said that Dunbar’s toy drive is by far the largest and longest-running in the district. This year, more than 350 toys were collected, according to STLP co-sponsor and the school’s technology resource teacher, Mrs. Brooke Jackson.
Some of the gifts are store-bought, and some are handmade. Several students in STLP crocheted stuffed animals and created cards to pass out along with the toys, not only for the kids, but also for their families.
The participants said that being able to donate to the hospital was a good start to the holiday season.
“It feels good knowing that these toys can bring a little light into the kids in their families’ lives during such a hard time, ” sophomore Priya Chandrashekar said.
The students hope to make next year’s drive bigger and better. Senior Tessa Carlson hopes to build the STLP program by recruiting her peers so they can experience the joy that comes from this event.
“It makes me happy that I can make a difference in the community,” she said.
Mrs. Jackson said that the annual toy drive is a humbling reminder to appreciate what we have.
“We all live with little stress, but we forget how good we have it.”
A registered nurse from UK, Daniel Andrews, attended the event so he could speak directly to STLP members. He said that events like these create “a sense of community and a sense of internal joy.” He said that knowing you’re doing something to help another person, even if it’s someone you’ll never meet, is extremely fulfilling.
“What we did today was really cool,” he said.
Mrs. Jackson said that she also thinks the toy drive is a moment for the Dunbar community to come together around a noble cause.
“Giving is just as good for the person giving as the person receiving. It brings joy and kindness into the world at a time we really need it.”
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For more information about the Student Technology Leadership Program, you can contact Mrs. Jackson or Mrs. Turner with questions.
