One of Keene State College’s clubs is giving back to the community in a big way this holiday season.
Big Brothers Big Sisters, a club dedicated to giving back to the community, has recently started running a toy drive.
Laura RomanielLo / Art Director
Vice President of the KSC chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters sophomore Kayla Koster said, “This is our second year doing the toy drive. It turned out really well last year, so we are hoping for another good turnout.”
The toy drive started the week after Thanksgiving break, she said.
Koster explained that all the toys Big Brothers Big Sisters collects goes to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire.
They then give the toys away, according to whether the families need it. Koster said, “The club doesn’t get to see what families the toys end up going to, but we know that they are given to the New Hampshire program and they distribute them.”
Koster explained they are a community service-based club, so giving back to the area of Keene is something they enjoy doing.
“We always do a fundraiser,” Koster said, whether it is a canned food drive for Thanksgiving, a toy drive for the Christmas season or just simply raising money for an organization.
According to Koster, the toys they collect are typically for children between the ages of five and 13, which is usually elementary and middle schoolers.
Koster said they collect toys for that age group because those are mostly the ages the New Hampshire Big Brothers Big Sisters organization deals with.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to give college students the opportunity to get out into the community, meet young children, be matched with them, spend time with them and become their mentor. Koster said the mission of the club is really to mentor kids throughout the community.
“Giving back is what we like to do,” said Koster. Since giving back to the community is one of the main missions of the club, the toy drive helps the club succeed in that.
Sophomore and secretary of the club Allison Mahan said, “Big Brothers Big Sisters chose to do a toy drive because we feel that it is amazing to give children the opportunity to have toys during the holiday season.”
Sophomore and treasurer MacKenzie Crowley said, “I think the toy drive is something amazing for children and families, as it helps them during the holiday season that can be difficult. This relieves stress off of the parents and allows the children to have a great experience.”
Crowley said, “The toy drive means alot to me because I feel all children should have the chance to have an amazing Christmas. I know this can be a difficult time for parents and families, so it is amazing to be able to help out with that.”
Mahan said, “Personally participating in the toy drive makes me so happy. Being able to help others especially around the holiday season is amazing.”
According to Koster, during the holiday season, Big Brothers Big Sisters is really aiming to make a difference and give families who can’t afford to purchase toys the opportunity to still get them.
“It’s the season of giving, so knowing that we can give back to our community is always a blessing,” said Koster.
Molly Spooner can be contacted at mspooner@kscequinox.com
