TLU teaming up with KWED Radio, Thriving Hearts Crisis Center
(Seguin) – This year’s KWED Holiday Food and Toy Drive is getting a much-needed head start thanks to some fellow Bulldogs.
Texas Lutheran University’s Black and Gold Council is currently collecting toys on behalf of the radio station’s annual holiday drive for the Seguin Police Department’s Blue Santa Program. Although the effort is not until Friday, Dec. 6 outside our studios, the college community is doing its part to muster up additional donations not only on campus but at various off-site locations.
In conjunction with its collection of toys, the TLU students are also hosting a Holiday Hope Clothing Drive. The students are accepting new or gently used clothing, blankets and coats to benefit the Thriving Hearts Crisis Center formerly known as the Guadalupe Valley Family Violence Shelter.
Courtney Burnett, a senior graduate student at Texas Lutheran University, says over the years, the students have organized a holiday 5K event. But this year, she says the students wanted more of an outreach effort. Plus she says the campus wanted an easier way for all students and staff to be able to give during exams and all other end of course events.
Burnett says not only did the group want to fuel the success of KWED’s Holiday Food and Toy Drive, but it also wanted to concentrate on a clothing drive.
“I feel that toys and clothes are a bit under appreciated especially during the holiday season. We have a lot of organizations that do food drives that collect donations for that. Even on campus, we have a food pantry for students that takes donations, but I’ve never really seen a clothing drive or toy drive here on campus and so that is something that I kind of wanted to start making a tradition here not only for BGPC but for other student organizations here on campus,” said Burnett.
Donating toys and clothing is available now through Dec. 6. Burnett says all toys must be new while clothing, again, should be new or gently used. Only socks and undergarments must be brand new.
“Here on campus, you can find them in every building. So, if people are visiting the Student Alumni Center or our College Center, Boeck Center, they can find a box there and donate there. We are also accepting cash and check donations here on campus as well in our Alumni Student Center through our Administrative assistant Ali Bratcher. She is accepting and holding cash and donations there and then off campus, we have locations — one in the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce; one in Dietz Flower Shop and one in the Seguin Public Library and also, one at KWED,” said Burnett.
Meanwhile, the media team at KWED Radio is excited that its holiday drive is branching off into the TLU community providing more awareness of the needs that exist in this community. Burnett says it’s those established relationships and community partnerships that help make things happen.
“I’ve always said that TLU is a very community driven campus. We benefit so much from helping others in our community helping us and so it’s important that we partner with our local businesses, our local radio station, our local partners to help others and to help others benefit and so, we have two days a year where TLU completely just sends students out to the Garden of Eden or the animal shelter or again, like Thriving Hearts. We send those students out there twice a year so it’s once a semester to serve others and help the community. We have a whole department dedicated – Our Center for Servant Leadership – that is just dedicated to help others. So, I think it’s so important that TLU leans in the community and the community does vice versa,” said Burnett.
All cash donations for the TLU Blue Santa and Clothing Drive can be dropped off at the First-Year Experience and Student Engagement Center located in the Alumni Student Center (ASC) just across from the TLU Mabee Pool. Again, various collection points for both toys and clothes will be available in most TLU buildings including in the ASC.
Burnett along with other TLU students will also be a part of our live events during the KWED’s Holiday Food and Toy Drive. The drive will be held from 7 to 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 outside the studios at 609 E. Court St.