UA Student Repays Kindness with Holiday Toy Drive for Fellow Tornado Victims

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama College of Education student Rebecca Ellison and members of TuscMoms are organizing T-Town Toys for Hope, a holiday toy drive to benefit students of Alberta Elementary School, one of the area schools destroyed by the April 27 tornado.

Ellison said they are hoping to provide every student at the relocated Alberta Elementary with at least one gift-wrapped toy for Christmas.

Toy drive organizers are asking the community to donate new, unwrapped toys (valued at $20 or less) for students in pre-K- fifth grade by Sunday, Dec. 11. Suggested toys include building sets, craft or jewelry-making kits, pillow pets, board games, blocks, art supply kits, dolls, books and action figures.

 The drop-off point for gifts is First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa. Donors should use the circular drive accessed from 23rd Street and bring gifts to the door under the canopy, where they will press the buzzer to gain admittance.  Gifts should be dropped off between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Members of the UA National Society of Collegiate Scholars will volunteer their time to help with gift wrapping.

Ellison is an early childhood education major at UA. She, her husband and their child lost almost everything when their home behind Schlotzsky’s Deli on 15th Street was struck by the tornado.

Ellison said she was so overwhelmed by the outpouring of aid and support that she received from the Tuscaloosa community while trying to rebuild her family’s life that she decided to repay that kindness by giving back to the students of Alberta Elementary, where she is currently a student teacher. 

 “I cannot imagine the horror these kids went through when everyone they knew or their whole extended families lost their homes or lives,” Ellison said.  “These children have lost an innocence that they will never get back. Home is the place where you are supposed to feel safe.”

For more information on T-Town Toys for Hope, including an updated list of drop-off locations, go to www.tuscmoms.com or contact Ellison at 618/830-0309, rebecca.ellison@ymail.com.