Pam White wasn’t sure how many Toys for Tots donation boxes would be needed this year at Bon Air Elementary School.

“I contacted the Toys for Tots representative for our area,” said White, a personalized learning coach at Bon Air who took over as faculty adviser for Student Council this fall. “She asked how many collection boxes I thought I would need. Being unsure of how many gifts I thought we would collect, I clearly underestimated the number of boxes.

“It didn’t take long for the boxes to be overflowing with toys.”

The Toys for Tots drive, a staple at Bon Air for about 25 years, turned up close to 150 toys to be donated this year.

White said it was humbling to see how many toys were donated. Families and grandparents of students also pitched in with the effort.

“It reached beyond the Bon Air Elementary community, which was even more special,” White said. “There certainly was a true spirit of giving from all walks of life.”

White said the toy collection is the first of many service projects planned for the Bon Air student council. Any third or fourth grade student at the school is given the opportunity to be a member, she said.

“I wanted to provide all students with the concept that student council is a form of school leadership,” she said. “It allows students to feel and be a part of something greater than themselves. And, since there are no elections, all students are provided this opportunity, which is a great introduction to community service as a whole.”

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