By Casey Platenik and Marissia Potamianos

Staff Writers

The Umoja club kicked off the holiday season by sponsoring a toy drive for less fortunate children. In a time period of three weeks, Jamesville-DeWitt High School students contributed over 600 toys. The Umoja club motivated students by giving the winning homeroom a donut breakfast. The freshman homeroom of Mr. Matthew Phillips won giving donating over 115 toys. 

All of the toys that J-DHS students brought in are going to be given the NAACP, an organization that most Umoji members are involved in. This organization hosts a toy drive each year to help make kids holidays a little brighter. J-DHS senior and president of Umoja, Chidera Joseph said it was a good opportunity to get involved in because it helps out the community.

Mr.Phillips homeroom said that they were very motivated to get the donut breakfast as well as help out the community. Everybody in the homeroom contributed even if it was just one toy. Freshman Elliot Turner brought in over 60 toys and said it was because he had so many lying around the house. Freshman Nick Sturgeon brought in over 20 toys because he wanted to get the donut breakfast. 

The toy drive was a great success said Emoja teacher advisor Ms. Simone Pacillio. The toys went to a great cause and because of this everyone in the club hopes to continue this fundraiser in years to come.