AMA Toy and Clothing Drive

12/04/2014 1:54 PM

By Brandon Wallace ’17

Bradley University’s chapter of the American Marketing Association collected new toys and clothing for donation to the Children’s Home in Peoria over the past couple of weeks.

In addition to collecting new toys and clothing, they also accepted monetary donations, which were spent on more clothing and toys to be donated.

Tables were set up in the Baker Atrium at various times over the last two weeks.

AMA President Rebecca Walczak said they decided to do the drive because she knew how rewarding of an experience it would be.

“Even though we don’t get to see the children’s faces when they open the presents, it’s nice to know a child won’t go without a present this year,” Walczak said.

Walczak also said that the Children’s Home was the perfect choice for an organization.

“It’s all about the children,” Walczak said, “Not only does the Children’s Home offer support and help for children, but they also help families out. AMA is a professional organization that wants to help the community around Bradley as well as the community on campus, so it seemed like a great fit.”

However, with a great program like this, there will always be challenges.

“I think this idea took off a lot faster and was a lot bigger than anyone realized,” Walczak said. “We went from focusing on Foster College to then having more donation boxes at the GCC and a local grade school. We had email blasts going out in more than one college, and we’re being featured in articles. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to see how large this gets, and possible a reoccurring event, but it will be a challenge coordinating this with finals coming up.”

Despite the challenges, Walczak and the rest of AMA were very excited about the program.

“Knowing that these children will be able to open a gift around the holidays makes everything worth it. I have no problem spending as much time on this event as I can because I know that a child’s smile mean more.”

As the toy and clothing drive came to an end this week, with help from Bradley’s student organization Fashion Focus, as well as Brimfield Elementary School, the Bradley AMA proudly announced its final numbers:

• $623.30 in cash donations ($500 was spent on individual wish lists provided by the Children’s Home, leaving $123.30 to donate outright)
• 140 toys (all new, unwrapped)
• 23 articles of clothing (all new, with the tags on them)