I run a community service club at school and today we helped out setting up Pass It Along's annual toy shop. The toy shop is set up in a local church and it's just a huge room filled with toys! This week families in need can come and choose some gifts for their children. It's truly a remarkable event and it's a privilege to be a part of it.
I have volunteered at this shop before but I have never helped out with setting it up. Students from my club signed up, but this task was so big that we needed more volunteers, so I opened it up to all my students. Overall I had about 30 students and a few of my cousins :) come to help. When we walked into the church we were faced with a HUGE pile of bags filled with toys. I mean this pile was so big I felt sick looking at it because I felt that there was NO WAY we could get this done in only four hours. But my volunteers and others that came, including many former students who are now in high school, worked at sorting the toys by gender and age and then resorting by type of toy (barbies, cars, etc). Then we had to pack up some toys to hide because the shop is open all week long so we wanted everyone to have a fair shot at getting the best toys.
Well four hours later the place looked like Toys R Us. Everything was separated and organized and displayed beautifully. There was a table of books and puzzles, a table of crafts, a table of scarves and hats, a table of games - it was amazing.
The toy shop opens tomorrow and every parent can choose a large and small gift for each of their children, they can also take a book and stuffed animal or an item of clothing. When they leave they will be given a roll of wrapping paper, some bows, a homemade ornament and a box of homemade cookies. There is also a large section of gently used coats that they can take and some gently used Christmas decorations as well.
The shop is amazing but more amazing were my students who gave up a big chunk of their weekend to give back to their community and to those in need. No one moaned or complained, no one tried to leave early - nope they showed up and worked hard and laughed and sang as they did it. Teenagers are amazingly good and they have the power to change the world!
