Courtesy of Erin Harvey, Wilmington SID

NEW CASTLE, DE -- Members of the Wilmington University Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) teamed up and collected over 70 toys for the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program throughout the holiday season.

The SAAC members set out boxes around the New Castle campus and asked other student-athletes, students, and staff members to contribute new, unwrapped toys.  During the last few weeks, the SAAC made presentations at a faculty senate meeting to drum up support.

On December 15^th, two members from Bulk Fuel Company B, 6^th Engineer Support Battalion located in Wilmington, came to the University to collect the toys.  Members of the Wildcat SAAC were there to help load the truck.

Juniors Heather Karasek, Paul Riggio, and Amanda Cordrey of Wilmington's SAAC helped organize the drive, which was deemed a huge success, after tripling the number of toys that were collected last year.

According to the Toys for Tots website, the program is designed to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them as Christmas gifts to children in our local communities.

Wilmington's Athletic Director, Frank Aiello stated, "It has been a great experience to see our student-athletes give back and know that they can contribute on and off the playing field."