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ASU students and faculty respond to the needs of others during the holiday season

Dec. 12, 2005

Good work produces great results for hundreds of children

Arizona State University students and faculty collected more than 400 new toys, games and stuffed animals to donate to children in the state’s foster care system. The items were collected as part of ASU’s West campus 4th Annual Share of Joy toy drive, sponsored by the Social Work Students Organization.

Collection boxes were set up around the West campus to collect toys for children, ages infant to 18, living in the custody of Child Protective Service—CPS. The overwhelming response to the month-long holiday drive will benefit Arizonans for Children, a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that raises funds to support children who are wards of the state.

While most students prepared for their finals, Salina Hancock and a handful of ASU Social Work students, helped coordinate the annual toy drive at the West campus.  

“It’s an incredible feeling being able to give to the children in our community,” said Hancock, who was recently named Social Work Student of the Year by the Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

The students delivered the wrapped toys to a CPS facility where volunteers will distribute them to children during a holiday party on Dec. 17, at Children’s Visitation Center, 402 W. Monroe, Phoenix. The Children’s Visitation Center is a non-threatening, home-like environment where children in CPS custody can meet with estranged parents and siblings.

“Community service projects offer many benefits to our students,” said Jim McCabe, assistant professor department of Social Work in the College of Human Services. “Service projects provide students with the opportunity to get to know their community and its needs. It also gives them the chance to learn about relevant social issues.”

ASU Social Work students have volunteered for other on-going programs besides the annual toy drive, including donating “Refugee Baskets” to Catholic Social Services to help refugees achieve self-sufficiency, and luggage to Arizonans for Children for children in foster care as they move from home to home. 

“During the busy holiday season, sometimes it’s easy to forget those in need,” said Hancock. “The Social Work Students Organization worked hard to be able to give something to children who might otherwise not receive anything for the holidays.”

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