The SkillsUSA Leadership Team poses with members of Shawsheen Technical College's Billerica Fire Department with 385 toys collected during the annual Toys for Tots drive. (Alison Camarata/Shasheen Tech)
BILLERICA — The SkillsUSA leadership team at Shawsheen Valley Technical School once again demonstrated the extraordinary power of community and compassion through its annual Toys for Tots drive.
As a result of our collective efforts in 2023, we collected 385 toys. This is an important achievement that embodies the spirit of giving in both the school and the community.
For eight years, the Shawsheen SkillsUSA Chapter has partnered with the Billerica Fire Department and Marine Corps to run the Toys for Tots fundraiser. This began after a student had a first-hand encounter with the organization, which ignited a lasting commitment within the chapter to support this cause. The campaign ran from November 2nd to December 8th.
The SkillsUSA team demonstrated an outstanding dedication to generosity by exceeding the previous record of 246 toys collected in 2022, increasing the number of donated toys by nearly 56%.
At the core of this effort are the SkillsUSA organization's core values: community engagement and leadership development. The Toys for Tots fundraiser served as a platform for students to exercise and develop these valuable skills.
The success of this campaign was the result of the dedicated efforts of all Shawsheen Technical College students and staff, and a special thank you goes to the SkillsUSA leadership team. Their efforts ranged from designing and displaying school-wide posters, to distributing donation boxes, to diligently monitoring donations each morning. In addition, students utilized multiple communication channels to encourage participation, including announcements at school and collaboration with various clubs and organizations. In conclusion, the leadership team carefully organized and counted the toys and prepared them for pick-up.
A touching moment occurred when the Billerica Fire Department arrived on campus with their vehicle lights on, ready to retrieve the donated toys. They emphasized that there is a short period of 11 days between the collection of gifts and their delivery to children.
The amazing generosity of the Shawsheen community has undoubtedly left an indelible impact, spreading joy and hope to countless children during the holiday season.
