When you ask Stacy Mulholland, a Manor College Dental Hygiene student, about the Toy Drive she is leading for the Student American Dental Hygienists’ Club fundraiser, her face lights up immediately. The toy drive will benefit children from families in need and will be running through December 18. 

Every year there are families who struggle around the holidays. Many families have been facing unforeseen financial hardships. In the midst of this, children are suffering as well. Suffering because they can’t play with friends, they can’t go to school and family get-togethers have come to a halt. Stacy stated, “I just kept thinking of all these children who may wake up for the first time this year without gifts from ‘Santa’ ’or their parents.” Children do not have the ability to understand that their parents couldn’t buy gifts this year because they had to pay their rent or mortgage, or because they only had enough money for food. Mulholland stated, “A quote I once came across hopefully will inspire others like it has me, ‘If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life.’”Stacy says the most obvious goal of this toy drive is to help as many families in need this year. There are so many families in need as a result of job losses from COVID-19 on top of families already relying on the help of others. Christmas is about giving, and what better way than to give to the little people who help keep the spirit of Christmas alive.

When asked why she is passionate about this, Mulholland replied, “Oh wow.  I don’t even know where to start. I myself am a mother of four children. I can’t even begin to imagine how helpless and sad I would feel if I was ever in a position where I had to choose between feeding my family and giving them a few small gifts to wake up to on Christmas morning (or for Hanukkah). There are so many people out there struggling and I want to help keep the spirit of Christmas alive in the hearts of these children in need.” 

Mulholland hopes that the community sees how one small act of kindness has a ripple effect and how much good can come out of something that starts out so small. 

The Toy Drive has collected 100 gifts so far and received a $500 donation. Want to donate? 

1. Find our amazon wish list at www.amazon.com/registries
2. Type in “Manor College” for registrant Name and Select “Custom Gift List”
3. Shop for gifts! Please make sure to have gifts delivered to Manor College Attn: SADHA Toy Drive

All gifts must be received by December 18th to ensure proper delivery.

Questions? Email Stacy at spacheco-mulholland@manor.edu or Samantha at samantha.hawe@manor.edu.