University High School has started its annual toy drive for the winter holidays. Holiday Helpers Toy Drive was founded in 1996 originally  to help a family who had lost their home, days before Christmas. Holiday Helpers Toy Drive has since expanded its program to help other families and now provides many with meals, trees and gifts for Christmas. Gifts donated to the Holiday Helpers Toy Drive will be given to The Spark of Love program through the local fire station and then distributed to families in need. Several students, including Amir Aftabi (So.), Jessica Kim (Sr.) and Judy Lee (Sr.), donate to Holiday Helpers Toy Drive annually. Aftabi said that this charitable organization is a great cause and gives students “a trustworthy, on-campus way of helping the unfortunate this holiday season.” Kim enjoys donating to Holiday Helpers Toy Drive because she said she wants all children to be happy and hopes that they “get a chance to feel the happiness and fortune that other children do”. Lee likes to help others who are less fortunate and said she enjoys “spreading Christmas cheer to others in need.”
Anyone can donate toys to the drive. To participate, take a paper ornament off the tree which will have a name and an age of a child. Please bring in a present that is appropriate for the child listed. Gifts must be new and unwrapped, and acceptable items for this drive include soccer balls, board games, art supplies, scarves and gloves, water bottles, clothes, $5 gift cards and toiletries.  You may bring your donations to the front office until December 18.
By MONICA LAFERLA
Staff Writer