If college students could sit on Santa's lap, what would they wish for? No student loans? To help a child in need? To get rid of those pesky parking tickets? Luckily for Assumption students, each year the Department of Public Safety makes two of those wishes possible.
On Wednesday, December 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Department of Public Safety will host a Toys for Tots event, in which students can make a monetary donation or give a gift and in return, their parking tickets can be voided.
Detective Donald Brickman of Public Safety is one of the people running the event and explained the process: "A student can come in with up to two parking tickets, and to void the ticket they have to come in with either a 10 dollar toy per ticket, or they can do 10 dollars cash."
The system, according to Brickman, is a good way of getting students to pay attention to the program and get involved. "A lot of times when students come into our office to complain about a ticket that they want to appeal and void, we offer them the appeal process and always say ‘and don't forget, Toys for Tots is a good way to take care of the ticket that way and actually help out a child with a toy,'" said Brickman.
Originally started in 1947, Toys for Tots is a program held by the Marine Corps to help out children in need during the Christmas Season. Major Bill Hendricks was inspired to start the program when his wife recommended that he find an organization that donates toys to children. Upon discovering that such an organization did not yet exist, Hendricks' wife told him that he should start one. In 1948 the program spread nationwide, with Marine Reserve units across the country holding drop off stations for the toys.
Assumption has participated in Toys for Tots for 13 years and each year the event has had a great turnout. "It's something that I think a lot of students know about just from years and years of being here and hearing stories about it," said Brickman. Although Brickman has been participating for years, he still is surprised at the amount of toys the school collects each year. "I'm one of the people that carries all of [the toys] back at the end and I'm always like, ‘How do we get this much stuff back to our office,' which is good," said Brickman.
Although the ticket system is an effective way of encouraging students to donate, it is not required in order to give a gift. "Some people come every year, and it's a tradition for them to donate a toy without a ticket, so that's obviously fine as well," said Brickman. Along with donating toys, there will also be a collection box for the Secret Santa Fund, run by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. The Secret Santa Fund uses the money donated to buy Christmas presents for children who would not otherwise receive them.
While getting parking tickets voided is one incentive for attendance, the event also will have a raffle, refreshments and the opportunity to take a picture with Santa and an assortment of other Christmas characters. "Last year I think we had a Christmas mouse," said Brickman with a laugh, claiming that he's not sure which characters will be making an appearance this year.
Located by the Charlie's stage, the Toys for Tots is a chance for everyone on campus to have a good time and make a difference before the Fall semester ends. "A lot of people take the option to make the ticket go away, which they have to do either way, but this way makes them feel good and help someone out at the same time."
According to Brickman, it is an enjoyable and fulfilling day for the members of Public Safety as well. "It's kind of fun for us, because it's, I don't want to say a day off from work, but it's a different kind of day."
is a member of the 
Be the first to comment on this article!