Every year, Legal Studies teacher Mr. Alessi holds a holiday toy drive in Room 312 to collect toys to give to the needy through Toys for Tots. Mr. Alessi took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for The Boulevard Online and talk about the toy drive.
The Boulevard Online: What did Prep accomplish with this toy drive?
Mr. Alessi: This year we collected once again well over 150 toys. The donation service we use, Toys-For-Tots, gives two toys per child. So, thanks to the kindness of the staff and students here at Prep we will be helping at least 75 children have a better Christmas. Some of these kids will only get the presents we donated. Therefore, we literally made some children’s Christmas happen.
TBO: What is the record for most toys donated for a year at Prep? How did this year compare?
Mr. Alessi: Each year tends to be very similar. We tend to get around 150-plus toys. One year we had over 200 and that was simply incredible. So this year is about average for Prep. We have a lot of kind people here and so we always donate quite a few toys and help as many people as we can.
TBO: What can we do to promote the toy drive better next year for more donations?
Mr. Alessi: Other than maybe having some more online presence, I always feel like we do a pretty good job of getting the word out. People can of course also collect on their own. The big year of over 200 toys I know several people asked their churches to donate and so we received toys from a whole bunch of people outside of Prep as well. I don’t mind anyone
doing that, but I don’t want to put any pressure on any students that they have to ask other people to help. If a student wants to put the word out to their church or community, I am okay with that but there is no pressure. We do a great job every year and I am always so proud. As long as we keep doing what we are doing, I am happy and so are many children.
TBO: Is there a reason why you participate in the toy drive? What does it mean to you?
Mr. Alessi: Yes there is a very specific reason why I participate in this toy drive and have done so for years. My mom. I didn’t know it at the time but my mom gave me the greatest Christmas memory of all time. I was about 8 or 9 at the time, I crept out of my room early on Christmas morning and saw the most amazing thing any child could ever see. The entire couch in our living room was completely covered in every single Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure that existed at the time. They were everywhere. My eyes lit up and my brain almost exploded.
Santa made my wish come true. At least at the time I thought it was Santa. Years later I realized it was my mom the whole time. Every magical thing about Christmas as a child came from my parents. When I became a parent that really stuck with me. The magic comes from mom and dad, not from Santa. And every year I see my daughters’ faces light up as mine did as I try to match the magic my mom made for me. I am also sadly aware that there are many children out in the world that don’t have parents or whose parents don’t have the ability to make Christmas special. Every child should believe in the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus. If we can help bring that magic to some kids, why wouldn’t we?
