Drexel's Holiday Toy Drive Delivers for Local Families

Drexel was decorated with holiday spirit this December, as the University organized a toy drive that provided more than 5,000 toys to be delivered to local families. The Dec. 15 event in Main Building, which was organized by the President’s Office and the Office of Government and Community Relations, distributed gifts to 70 organizations, including public housing developments, churches and ministries, homeless shelters, youth centers, social service agencies and more.

Government and Community Relations provided most of the toys for the drive, which has been an annual tradition for 20 years. Drexel students, faculty and staff also contributed donations to help fill Santa’s gift sacks — leading to an impressive and festive pile at the foot of Main Building’s grand staircase.

Dimitrios Boufidis, director of business and city affairs in the Office of Government and Community Relations, said he was proud to lead an effort so reflective of Drexel’s generosity.

“It is truly amazing to see the Drexel community coming together to contribute to the toy drive — from donating toys, to transporting them, to bagging them in order to get them ready for the distribution ceremony,” Boufidis said.

Prior to handing out the gifts, members of the Drexel community — the University’s elves, so to speak — gathered on Dec. 8 to bundle the toys in the Great Court of Main Building. The toys were delivered in oversized bags imprinted with the Drexel dragon.

“What makes the toy drive successful each year, in being able to collect more than 5,000 toys for local families facing hard times, is the never-ending support of our president, John Fry, and the amazing drive of the Drexel employees and their commitment to civic engagement that makes all the difference,” Boufidis said.