Hanae Nakajima & Jaime Hum-Nishikado
Reporters

Several school groups and clubs are hosting drives to provide for teens and children living in the Western Addition in public housing or whose  families have low income, and for the girls in the Philippines who otherwise would not receive gifts at Christmas.

Bins are in front of the Hoffman Library, Main Hall and the Community Service office for donations of unwrapped toys until Friday, Dec. 14.

“Roughly 300 to 500 toys get donated each year throughout all four schools,” community outreach coordinator Sheryl Davis said. “The good thing is that it gives our school community a chance to give back locally.” Some toys will go to children who attend after school tutoring at CES or who participate in the Schools’ summer reading program during a five-week camp.

“The toy drive is a little bit more intentional and it builds on existing partnerships and relationships,” Davis said. “It actually connects us a little bit more with kids that are already familiar. It’s not so random, and that’s what we like about it.”

CSH is likewise hosting a gift drive for teens and young adults. These gifts include gift cards, makeup and toiletries.

“I feel like a lot of people when they think of toy drives, think of little kids,” freshman Daniella Lucio said. “People our age don’t get enough of what they would like for Christmas.”

Senior Rebecca Siegel is trying to provide clothes for young girls in the Philippines.

Her organization, Beauty Within, focuses on build- ing self-esteem and confidence in young girls. Siegel is collecting T-shirts that will be donated to teenage girls. “Every girl deserves to have the opportunity to have the chance to be self-confident and self-assured as their counterparts in first world countries,” said Siegel.