Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® collects hundreds of toys
Racine Tucker-Hamilton | Published on 12/10/2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 10, 2021
CONTACT: Racine Tucker-Hamilton --301.922.8417 or racinehamilton@gmail.com
Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® collects hundreds of toys for students at Laurel, Maryland elementary school
Laurel, Md.— Barbies, board games, and basketballs are just a sprinkling of the toys collected by members of Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter (PEO) of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® in partnership with the Pearl Elegance Foundation (PEF), for its adopted school, Oaklands Elementary School on Sat., Dec. 4.
“This support means everything to us. Through our partnership with PEO and PEF, we have provided a food pantry, monetary donations, and volunteer hours. Unlike previous years, we wanted to do something special for the kids this year. A toy drive is something that the students can directly benefit from,” said Jewel Preston, principal of Oaklands Elementary School. “Parents will be able to shop for their kids secretly. We wanted our students to be able to get gifts and feel the love during Christmas.”
On Dec. 18, parents are invited to the school for a day of shopping, they are encouraged to sign up to attend the in-person shopping day. Each parent will be able to collect two gifts per student along with a coat, hat, gloves, scarf, and blanket. The gifts will not be wrapped, allowing the parents to pick what they know their child would like and can enjoy wrapping themselves.
“For Psi Epsilon Omega service to the community and to the families at Oaklands happens all year long, but this time of year is an opportunity to do something special and meaningful for the students,” said Benita Swindell, PEO president. “Our members are overwhelmingly supporting this project.”
The members successfully collected nearly 600 toys, including but not limited to games, blocks, action figures, and playsets so far, with the goal of 800 in total so that each child can receive two toys each. Deliveries are still arriving at the school daily from online shopping, so PEO and PEF are hopeful of reaching its goal by Dec. 18.
This toy drive is a local effort aligned with the organization’s national Target 3: Operation AKA Assist and Target 5: Global Impact for the community.
###
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated®, Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter was chartered in 2007. Since its founding, the chapter has implemented its service programs in Laurel, Bowie, and Greenbelt, Maryland.
Pearl Elegance Foundation, Incorporated is a non-profit 501(c)3 charity established in 2014 in Maryland. PEF is a direct outgrowth of the Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Oaklands Elementary Toy Drive Press Release