USM Volleyball Team, Veterans Center Partner on Toys for Tots Donation
Wed, 12/06/2023 - 11:25am | By: Van Arnold
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) volleyball team decided to spike their holiday cheer this Christmas season with a toy drive that will benefit needy children throughout the Hattiesburg area.
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, team members donated the collection to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program with assistance from the University’s Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families.
“USM volleyball wanted to find a way to combine our match theme with a way to give to the local community,” said Head Coach Jenny Hazelwood. “Through many ideas and discussions, we came up with Celebrating Christmas and having a toy drive. Anyone who donated a toy got into the match for free. This was our second year doing this, and it has been a big success.”
The USM Veterans Center has been actively involved in the Toys for Tots program over the past several years. David Rayborn, VA Certification Specialist, notes that in previous years the Center has placed three collection boxes around the Hattiesburg campus. This year the number has grown to five.
Rayborn emphasized that the Veterans Center’s participation in the program is a “no-brainer” since Toys for Tots was founded by the U.S. Marine Corps.
“As a rule, veterans support veterans. At a time when we feel much of the country overlooks our veterans, we love showing all the good done by miliary families and veterans organizations,” said Rayborn. “The Toys for Tots campaign has been active since 1991 and just continues to grow through this program and their ongoing outreach that operates year-round.”
Drop-off sites on USM’s Hattiesburg campus include:
- Scianna Hall, breakroom area
- Graduate School office, J.B. George building
- Starbucks entrance, Cook Library
- Baptist Student Union, cafeteria area
- Veterans Center, front entrance
Janet Baldwin serves as the Toys for Tots Coordinator for Forrest and Lamar counties. She points out that toys will be collected on Dec. 14 from 63 businesses set up as drop-off sites in the Pine Belt. Baldwin and Assistant Coordinator Jerry Spann have been serving in these roles for the past eight years, while also participating in the program with the Oseola McCarty Youth Development Center for the past 19 years.
Baldwin explains that approximately 300 individual family applications have been made for toys, along with six church groups and other non-profit organizations in the area. Last year, the local Toys for Toys program assisted more than 3,600 children. She stresses the importance of the Hattiesburg community working in harmony to help needy families.
“We are seeing a great increase in the number of grandparents who are raising grandchildren and have little or no income to provide anything for them,” said Baldwin. “Together, we all can help put smiles on the faces of our community children this holiday season.”
Hazelwood notes that among the toys donated by the USM volleyball team are games, plush animals, skateboards, and of course – volleyballs.
“One thing we talk about is being grateful for all of the blessings we have around us,” said Hazelwood. “It is a joy and honor to wear the Southern Miss uniform and we are thrilled to be able to give back in every way we can.”
Learn more about the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots Program.
To learn more about the local Toys for Tots campaign, visit their Facebook page.