La Sociedad and BSU begin work on the toy drive

Amancai BirabenStaff WriterMembers of the La Sociedad club and teacher adviser Claudia Bautista-Nicholas are beginning to work on their annual Toy Drive, which provides holiday gifts for elementary school students in need. Donations are accepted by individuals but also by classes or other groups who choose to sponsor a single student or donate miscellaneous gifts to the toy drive as a while.As in recent years, the Black Student Union (BSU) is partnering with La Sociedad to help put on the toy drive.“We’re trying to forge positive relations between multicultural groups at Samo," Bautista-Nicholas said.Bautista-Nicholas has been leading the toy drive with La Sociedad for about five years. The toy drive has provided gifts for underprivileged students who attend John Muir Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Edison Language Academy, Will Rogers Elementary and Grant Elementary. This year, the two clubs are also considering branching out to John Adams Middle School.“I know a lot of kids at the elementary schools who have older siblings and are homeless,” Bautista-Nicholas said.According to Bautista-Nicholas, La Sociedad feels it is important to put on the toy drive because many club members received gifts from similar organizations when they were younger.“I came from a very poor background, and people always helped us out," Bautista-Nicholas said. "La Sociedad and myself find that this is a way of giving back."abiraben@thesamohi.com