On Tuesday, Dec. 16, yellow school buses will roar down Washington Avenue in Albany to the Marine Corps Reserve Center with their seats filled with toys, not students.
For the second year, South Colonie School District will be collecting items for the Marines’ Toys for Tots program, with the hope that people will donate enough toys to stuff a bus to the brim. Donations can be made over a period of a few weeks, and those in charge of the Stuff the Bus program say the effect the toys will have less fortunate children lasts a lifetime.
Last year, five South Colonie Central School District school buses carried 10,000 toys to the reserve center.
Brian Casey, vice president of the district’s board of education, said he was taken aback when Kathy Ogborn, one of the district’s school bus drivers, brought the idea to his attention.
`She said, ‘I want to try to stuff a school bus with toys.’ I said, ‘You’re crazy!’` Casey said.
But, Casey thought, if it was possible, then stuffing a school bus with toys would be a great way to support a good holiday cause. The district got in touch with the Marines Toys for Tots program and collaborated with them on a plan to fill one school bus with toys.
One school bus turned into five that year.
`We created a monster — a friendly monster,` said Casey. `It just blossomed and bloomed!`
About 10,000 toys were collected from locations throughout the community, including Colonie Center, Toys ‘R’ Us, and Kohl’s, as well as all of the schools throughout the district. Before transporting the toys to the reserve center, it took four storage units to house the Barbies, baseball bats, racecars and more.
According to Staff Sgt. Mary Castilla, regional coordinator for Toys for Tots, the toys that were collected went to children in 17 counties. She said the program appears to be doing well this year, too.
`I already see it being a huge success,` Castilla said. `Just being on board is a huge success.`
This year’s Stuff the Bus campaign began Thursday, Nov. 6, with one large yellow bus parked outside of Toys ‘R’ Us in Colonie.
`On the 6th they filled half the bus, on the 7th they stayed at the Toys ‘R’ Us and filled the other half,` said Casey.
With many people pinching pennies this holiday season, Casey said he is hopeful that people will come out to support the cause.
`Now the economy’s not so great. I think what it may do is [cause] people to now prioritize their charities,` he said. `I’d like to think that Toys for Tots and helping kids out will be at the top of the list.`
According to Ogborn, observing certain trends from last year’s Stuff the Bus should help the district target stores to park outside of that will bring the most success.
`We did different events [last year], and they didn’t work out so well. This year we’re going to be in front of Kohl’s ` they have a great toy department. Last year, we tried Colonie Center and didn’t do so well. I guess everything is location,` she said.
Ogborn also said last year’s experience has showed the district what types of toys are most in need.
`Most times we’re short on 10-to-12-year-old little girls and baby toys. We get a lot cars and Barbies. But we need things that little girls would like. And it’s always nice to have preschool items,` she said.
District officials are hoping that this year, the number of toys brought in will be comparable to last year. Casey said that if the school district can bring in 10,001 toys, this year’s Stuff the Bus will be a great success.
The bus will be parked outside of the Northway Mall, Kohl’s Plaza and Jo-Ann Fabrics to accept unwrapped toy donations between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, or `Black Friday,` and will be accepting donations from each of the district’s schools on the following days: Monday, Dec. 1, Forest Park School; Tuesday, Dec. 2, Saddlewood School; Wednesday, Dec. 3, Shaker Road School; Thursday, Dec. 4, Roessleville School, and Friday, Dec. 5, Veeder School. “