Christmas Toy Drive at GSW

Jimmy Carter Leadership Program partners with SOWEGA CASA

by Jackson Carlstrom, Staff Writer

November 1 marked the beginning of the Jimmy Carter Leadership Program’s annual winter fundraiser. Every year, the freshmen student cohort of the JCLP choose a local organization to work with in a fundraiser to support the community. For the 2021 fundraiser, the JCLP freshmen are partnering once again with Southwest Georgia Court Appointed Special Advocates (SOWEGA CASA) for the first time since 2019’s Angel Tree Toy Drive.

SOWEGA CASA is an organization made up of over 100 volunteers who work to advocate for and improve the lives of children in foster care throughout Georgia.

Ashley Carag and Henderson Hurdle discuss toy drive.

Video by Jackson Carlstrom

To help SOWEGA CASA prepare for the holiday season, the JCLP freshmen student leaders have organized a toy drive. Items that are encouraged for donations include sports equipment, bicycles & bicycle helmets, Vtech learning toys, tablets & tablet protectors, and gift cards. The toy donations received will be given to SOWEGA CASA, who will then distribute them to foster children across the state who have been hit hard by COVID and other issues in the hopes that their spirits will be raised and to make their Christmas special. Toy donations may be dropped off at the Student Success Center, Canes Central, the Marshall Student Center hallway, Wheatley Administration Building, or the CASA House.

Freshman members of the JCLP collaborate with local restaurants.

Photo by Jackson Carlstrom

JCLP is also accepting monetary donations through Venmo, Paypal, and Cash App, as well as partnering with local restaurants Pat’s Place, Gyro City Mediterranean Grill, and 2 Dukes BBQ & More, who donated a portion of their proceeds to the toy drive on percentage nights. Through monetary donations and other money raising events, the JCLP hit over $1000 for the toy drive. The final day for donations to be accepted is November 30, with the final opportunity being at GSW’s Hurricane Holiday Fest from 6-8 on Wheatley Lawn.

Toy drive box in SSC.

Picture by Jackson Carlstrom

Watch Ashley and Henderson's interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnpanOI27lk