Mansfield ISD Magazine Winter 2019/2020 | Page 4

MISD TOYS FOR TOTS BRINGS IN MORE THAN 22,000 TOYS It just shows what a caring heart that our district has,” he said. MISD has donated nearly 200,000 toys through its Toys for Tots community toy drive. Prior to the big event, MISD campuses and departments encouraged students and staff to give to the cause by holding all sorts of contests. Event coordinators said the community support and enthusiasm shown for this event is powerful. Several local organizations collect toys and donate them at the community event. T housands of children across the Metroplex had a brighter holiday season, thanks to the immense generosity of the Mansfield ISD community. “We have Starbucks here, we have a cookie maker inside where you can make cookies,” said Mackenzie Watson, a senior at Frontier High School. “It’s a whole event, and there’s so much to do for everyone in the family.” MISD’s eighth annual Toys for Tots Drive was held on Dec. 4 at the Center for the Performing Arts. The entire site was transformed into a magical winter wonderland to allow people to donate a new, unwrapped toy while enjoying tons of free activities. Through this year’s event, $8,000 and more than 22,000 toys were donated. Former Superintendent Dr. Jim Vaszauskas said the district’s event brings in record amounts of toys each year for the Toys for Tots organization. Some of the special attractions of the event were the student performances, pony rides, petting zoo, kiddie “The Marines have told us several times that we raise more toys than anybody in the state of Texas and train, snow hill rides, photos with Santa Claus, games and crafts. potentially in the country. The annual mascot race airs live on FOX 4 News. 4 MANSFIELDTODAY “We can collectively come together for one day with everybody focused on the same thing, which is giving to others,” said Flo Torres, director of the MISD Center for the Performing Arts. “That is just the most amazing thing.” Toys for Tots was founded in 1947 by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. The program’s mission is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year and distribute those toys as gifts to children in the community who otherwise would not receive a present. MISD partners with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and FOX 4 News to make the MISD Toys for Tots Community Drive memorable for all. MISD’s Toys for Tots kicks off with a parade every year. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K