By Tuskegee University
The Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) family has continued the tradition in spite of the pandemic to spread joy to the students at George Washington Carver (GWC) Elementary School located in Tuskegee. Representatives of the college served as Santa and his helpers on December 16 for TUCVM”s Seventh Annual “Toy Drive for Tots.”
“Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, we have had to alter the administering of the Annual ‘Toy Drive for Tots’ to gift cards instead of actual toys. However, thanks to the commitment of our TUCVM family, the ‘Toy Drive for Tots’ is now an on-going, successful tradition in our college and anticipated by the college’s faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the college.
During the last day of class on Dec.16 for the students at Tuskegee’s GWC Elementary School, TUCVM’s Santa and his helpers helped to make the holidays a little merrier for 193 pre-k to first-grade students enrolled at GWC by delivering gift cards to each of the 11 classes at GWC.
With the assistance of GWC’s Principal Norman Williams, Jr., Asst. Principal Vishaka Brown, and the teachers representing the one pre-k class (teacher Laquita Cooks) and five kindergarten classes (teachers Wendy Reed-Williams, Letasha Dicks, Markeetia Johnson, Felecia Smith, and Katrina Huguley) and five first grade classes (teachers Audrey Menefee, Letisha Dicks, Ashley Sullins, Quanesha Powell and A’Isha Shuford), Santa and his helpers from TUCVM delivered $10 gift cards to each student to use to get a toy of their choice.
TUCVM faculty, staff and students were so generous that enough gift cards were also collected to also give the 42 teachers and support staff at GWC a $10 gift card as well to say thank you to them for their dedication to the children. This was another successful joint effort between the TUCVM family of faculty, staff, students and the administration to support the local community.
The teachers and administration at George Washington Carver Elementary School were appreciative that the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine had again continued the tradition in selecting their students to participate in the “Toy Drive for Tots” program.
“Seeing that the community cares is so meaningful to us here at GWC. We are so proud to have partnerships with the Tuskegee community like the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine that goes even beyond the holidays,” Principal Williams said.
The “Toy Drive for Tots” is an annual tradition in the college that was inspired by the TUCVM students and the TUCVM administration. The event is supported with active engagement from the college’s faculty, staff and students. Although done slightly differently for the second year due to the pandemic, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Roslyn Casimir and Student Affairs Director Anthony McCloud oversaw the college’s efforts with the support of Dean Ruby L. Perry. The purpose of the annual “Toy Drive for Tots” event is to help parents purchase toys and school supplies for the holidays for the boys and girls at GWC Elementary School in the pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grades.
“We applaud the efforts of all of our students, faculty and staff in demonstrating outstanding teamwork in making this seventh annual charity event possible. The event was truly special to all of us in the college in attendance and we enjoyed seeing the excitement of the students as Santa shared holiday cheer while the gift cards were distributed to the students,” said Anthony McCloud, student affairs director at TUCVM.
