PEER brings smiles with annual Toys for Tots drive

Alessia Mineo and Claudia Gutowski offer hugs and high-fives to kindergarteners while visiting elementary schools on December 12.

BY KATELYN BUCHALTER
Editor in Chief
Each year, OBHS organizes a Toys for Tots drive sponsored by the Marine Corps. This year proved no different, with various events related to promoting the cause, including a toy collection, Santa Con, and promotional videos made by PEER classes.

The actual toy collection and delivery took place on Thursday, December 12, but preparations started long before the month began. “We prepared by distributing boxes into every school for the toys,” added Alexander Rodriguez. “We also created a video to help promote the cause and spread it to all students.”

Former Marine and PEER teacher Guy Lassen’s class took on some artistic preparations as well to make the day all the more festive. “We first started by drawing out a design for the bus we would be traveling on. They painted the windows, put up a Toys for Tots sign, and hung things from the ceiling of the bus,” voiced Yaseen Diab.

Courtnee McFarlene and Alessia Mineo draw snowflakes on the bus windows before starting the collection.

On the day of the collection, the class dressed in Christmas attire, including elf and reindeer costumes. Student Assistant Counselor Robert Waitt dressed as Santa Claus and led the way through elementary school classrooms. “Stopping in each class got the kids really excited and the amount of toys we collected was honestly insane,” said Rodriguez. “We filled up majority of the bus and left minimal room.”

The collection took all day and included driving all around Old Bridge. “It was very fast paced. Once we loaded all of the high school toys, we went right to the middle and elementary schools and spent about 45 minutes to an hour at each,” said Annalisa Coco.

Student Assistance Counselor Robert Waitt, dressed as Santa, talks to the elementary students about the upcoming holidays.

Meeting the elementary students brought joy in the classroom and among the PEER students. “My favorite part was meeting all the younger grades like the kindergartners, because they were so excited to see us and Santa,” expressed Aanya Kyal.

After stopping by the majority of Old Bridge schools, Lassen’s class and the bus full of toys headed down to Neptune to drop off toys at the collection center. “Dropping the toys off at the warehouse was pretty easy,” said Rodriguez. “It just took some effort to bring everything from the bus to inside.”

At the end of the day, the class had an amazing time collecting toys and spreading holiday cheer. “The day went amazingly! Visiting the schools made the young students overjoyed to see us,” stated Ava Sophia Gross. “So many schools had collected toys, we were so grateful for how well it went.”

Alexander Rodriguez, Malli Khokal, and Brady Kelly greet second-grade students in their best holiday gear.
Annalisa Coco carries a bag of presents out of the gym along with other PEER leaders.
Alessia Mineo carries bags filled with toys to load the bus for drop off.
Senior Allan Tarazon holds the speaker playing Christmas music while walking through Salk to collect the Toys for Tots donations.