欧美高清 College of Veterinary Medicine makes the holidays merrier with annual toy drive at George Washington Carver School

Contact:聽 Anissa L. Riley, ariley@tuskegee.edu

TUSKEGEE, Ala. (December 16, 2024) 鈥� 聽The 欧美高清 College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) continued the tradition again this year by sponsoring the 10th Annual Toy Drive for Tots held on Dec. 10th.聽 TUCVM students, faculty and staff shared the true spirit of giving this holiday. They helped make the season a little merrier for the children in grades pre-kindergarten to first grade at George Washington Carver (GWC) Elementary School located in Tuskegee.

鈥淎s a vision kicked off originally by veterinary students several years ago and continuously supported by our dean, Dr. Ruby L. Perry, the 鈥楾oy Drive for Tots鈥� is now seen as an on-going tradition in our college and anticipated by the college鈥檚 faculty, staff and students,鈥� said聽 Chankia Berry, TUCVM鈥檚 Veterinary Social Worker and Toy Drive Coordinator.

鈥淭his inspired vision by the Class of 2019 is now an annual celebration led by the succeeding first-year class.聽 The first-year class also each year takes the responsibility of the holiday decorations in our college that encourages this festive time for all.鈥�

To ensure all 229 boys and girls in all three classes at GWC consisting of pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade received a gift; TUCVM divided its efforts for the toy drive collection into three sections.

TUCVM鈥檚 first year class (Class of 2028) took the lead with organizing the toy drive with the other veterinary students. They were also responsible for providing Santa and Santa's elves and worked with other students from the Classes of 2025, 2026, and 2027 to help make the drive a success.聽 Several veterinary faculty and staff members also assisted as Santa's helpers to distribute the toys to the very excited students.

Principal Norman Williams, Jr., Asst. Principal Vishaka Uluwita-Brown and Counselor Taneshia Bryant helped with the toy drive organization at the school鈥檚 end. The teachers and administration at George Washington Carver Elementary School are appreciative that TUCVM continues this tradition in selecting their students to participate in the 鈥淭oy Drive for Tots鈥� program.

The GWC teachers and assistants for pre-k through first grade that participated this year included the following:聽 Pre-k 鈥� Sonia Crist, Almeshia Purter-Cattage, Laquita Cooks and Teara Arnold; kindergarten 鈥� Letasha Dix, Crystal Frazier, Wendy Reed-Williams, Tameka Wright and Katrina Hughley; and first grade 鈥� Kimela Coleman, Letisha Dix, Kimberly Curry, Quanesha Powell and Audrey Tarver. This was another successful joint effort between the students and the CVM administration to support the local community!

The efforts of the TUCVM students, faculty and staff demonstrated outstanding teamwork in making this 10th annual toy drive event possible and a huge success. Last year the college collected over 230 gifts and this year the total was surpassed with not only having the 229 toys needed but also again providing extra gifts for teachers to once again stock classroom treasure boxes.

TUCVM鈥檚 Santa and 鈥淪anta鈥� helpers shared holiday cheer with GWC鈥檚 pre-k, kindergarten and first grade students, teachers and assistants on Dec. 10.