Santa's Workshop Toy Drive Taking Gift Donations

by Lillyan Baker, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
Become a Baylor University Christmas elf by donating gifts to Santa's Workshop Toy Drive, Monday, Nov. 3 through Friday, Nov. 28. The 16th annual Santa's Workshop will be sponsored by the Baylor department of student activities and the Baylor-Waco Foundation.
The Baylor community can donate unwrapped, age-appropriate toys for boys and girls between the ages of three and five that are $10 or less and are not battery operated. Donation boxes are located in every residence hall and major building on the Baylor campus. For the busier Baylor Christmas elf, cash donations are accepted and should be delivered to the office of student activities in the Bill Daniel Student Union (SUB) on the Baylor campus.

"I love watching the kids react to the surprise that they get to take a present home with them," said Karin Klinger, associate director of student activities for organizations, service and administration of Baylor, and chairman for Santa's Workshop. "I love to see the adults who work with the kids everyday have a brief moment of relaxation as Baylor students interact and entertain the children. It is a program that helps kids in need be kids."

Volunteers are encouraged to join the gift wrapping party to help wrap the presents on Thursday, Dec. 4 at the White Beckham room in the SUB on the Baylor campus. On Friday, Dec. 5, at 9:00 a.m., the children will eat lunch, receive a gift and enjoy the Christmas party with volunteers at the McLane Student Life Center (SLC) on the Baylor campus. The event will host Clifford the Big Red Dog, Bruiser Bear and Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Interested volunteers should stop by the office of student activities to sign up.

In the 1990, the Waco community started Santa's Workshop, which now hosts up to 1,000 children, and provides them with the opportunity to interact with Baylor students and volunteers. The participants are referred from Waco's Head Start and Jump Start program to the Santa's Workshop Steering Committee.
For more information about Santa's Workshop, contact Klinger at (254) 710-6936.