Toys for Tots Warehouse Volunteer

1. Picking the toys and putting them in different bags for different families allowed me to help the families that were unable to provide their kids with toys this Christmas.
2.This time I went to volunteer here, I helped reorganize toys to look more appealing and be easier to grab. Additionally, I was able to make bags of presents for kids for multiple families who were unable to go shopping this Christmas.
3. One skill that I was able to improve on at this specific event was decision -making and organizing. I had to decide what toys were best for the different age groups and organize them in different categories. Additionally , I had to reorganize papers of people who wanted “drop boxes” for toys alphabetically.
4. My service aligned with my beliefs because I was able to help make someone else’s Christmas special.
5. I learned about the surrounding communities that I currently live in aren’t as fortunate to have the funds to buy gifts for their children.

The direct support I offered had a constructive influence on both service members and their children. Our endeavors led to enhanced organization within the facility, streamlining the process for parents seeking gifts for their children. This proved especially advantageous for individuals constrained by time during the holidays due to their professional service commitments. At Toys for Tots, my service played a direct role in collecting items for families with children, and organizing them into bags, thereby simplifying the process for parents to gift their kids. After working with this organization a couple of times, with others and also individually, I believe that I have had somewhat of an impact on this organization just by showing up and being there willing to work to the best of my ability every time I attend. During this time at Toys for Tots, I believe that the service had an impact on me in the most positive way, I was honestly excited for this community service opportunity and I went in with an open mind and left with a positive attitude. I love how all the leaders are very kind and willing to explain things in depth and answer questions. I think for the remainder of the semester I will be unable to volunteer with this organization again but that will not stop me from continuing next year. I look forward to volunteering with Toys for Tots again consistently in the future.

I enjoyed volunteering this event. This was my second volunteer experience with Toys 4 Tots and I feel that my efforts will help make some child's Christmas wishes come TRUE!

How did your direct service benefit members of the broader community and describe your service?
It helped benefit the community by helping people be able to celebrate a normal Christmas even though they might not be able to otherwise. I was helping Toys for Tots by doing a few different things. When I first got there I was helping taping up boxes and putting the proper stickers on it so that they were ready to be shipped. The second part of it was getting the gifts together and packing them for the kids they will be sent to. The people running it were really happy to be there and were saying that we were moving really well today.

Do you plan to continue volunteering with this organization? Why or why not?
Overall, I would like to work with this organization again although I probably will not this season because I just have a lot going on in my personal life. The people there were really great and the work was not hard, but it was fulfilling. It was fun to work with the people there and it was not that far from the university.

Did you work individually or as part of a team during your service? How did that impact your experience?
I worked in a group during my service and it made my service way better. While we were packing boxes it would have taken twice as long as it did in order to get it done without help, not to mention having someone to talk to and work with allows the work to go by faster simply because you are able to enjoy yourself more. If I didn't have someone to work with it would have been pretty grueling simply because I hate working alone.

What impact do you think your service had on you personally?
Overall, It made me grateful that when I was growing up I was in a situation that allowed me to have good Christmases that I got what I wanted and my parents were able to get the things I wanted without me really having to worry about on if I would get it. So I was just grateful that I had always been in a good childhood.