Photo Gallery on FacebookVideo Clip HOUMA, La. – As part of Southland Conference's "Southland Gives Back" initiative, the Nicholls State University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) spent last Saturday (Dec. 13) lending a hand at the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots function held outside the parking lot of Walmart on Martin Luther King Blvd in Houma.
Around 20 Colonel student-athletes, including the entire women's basketball team, spent the day sorting donated gifts and loading them into a semi-trailer for distribution. All of the gifts will be delivered to less fortunate children in the local community.
"This particular event has been going on for about nine years," said retired U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Linwood Liner, who has been working with Toys for Tots since 1960. "Our primary responsibility is supporting our local community, so none of the toys donated to us leave Terrebonne Parish."
Along with the Colonels, several local businesses and organizations donated their time as well to help put on the all-day event. Several radio stations aired live from the parking lot and had the Colonel athletes on as guests to talk about the importance of giving back.
Toys for Tots was started in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks, USMRC in Los Angeles, where helped collect 5,000 toys. Since then, the organization has flourished into one of the most recognized charities during the holiday season and has distributed nearly 17 millions toys over the years.
To make a donation to Toys for Tots, please visit
toysfortots.org/donate.
