Center for Early Head Start and Graduate Student Organization Continue Toy Drive for Lubbock Children

Last semester the Center for Early Head Start (CEHS) and the Human Development Family Studies Graduate Student Association (HDFS-GSA) partnered to hold the annual toy drive event for children of the center. CEHS is an initiative of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, which provides continuous and comprehensive child development and family support services to approximately 100 Lubbock families with children from infant to three years of age.

Each November, the HDFS-GSA student organization works with the Center for Early Head Start to gather holiday present wish lists for the children. This year, the group was able to fulfill all 88 wish lists and even received an additional $3,000 in cash donations to benefit the families.

Former President of HDFS-GSA and Human Development and Family Studies doctoral student, Ali Luempert, said that the toy drive is crucial to stay connected to the community.

"I think that this work is an example of working with the community—we work with the staff and the families to let us know what their needs are, rather than making assumptions about their needs," Ali said.

The Human Development and Family Studies Graduate Student Association works to provide professional development, community service opportunities, and meet the social support and engagement needs of HDFS graduate students.

"HDFS-GSA has been a great opportunity to become more involved in the department and to provide support to fellow students," Ali said. "It has been a great learning experience, and it has been very rewarding."

Executive Director of the Center for Early Head Start, Stephanie Shine, Ph.D., says that the toy drive has a long tradition of gift-giving to children of CEHS, with many donations coming directly from the College of Human Sciences faculty and staff.

"The toy drive is a moment that all of us can enjoy together as a community," Dr. Shine said. "It's a time to feel unified and connected. Gifts were distributed to parents so they could give them to their children as they wished. There were plenty of hugs and tears when the gift bags were brought out. One mother showed up the next day with breakfast for the teachers, saying how special it made her feel to get a gift for her infant."