Kansas State Parking Services hosted its first annual holiday toy drive, with proceeds going to K-State families in need. From Nov. 10-Dec. 10, K-State students, faculty and staff had the opportunity to donate an unwrapped toy to enter into a raffle for free parking permits.
Parking Services will reward four K-State winners for a year-long free parking pass covering all campus lots and the garage. If a recipient is a graduating senior, they will receive free parking and a refund for any active permit they’ve previously purchased this year.
Adrienne Tucker, director of parking and transportation, hopes to build a better relationship between students and parking services with the drive.
“We’re really trying to change people’s perception of the department on campus,” Tucker said. “We want people to feel welcomed in parking, when they come to see us, we want to be seen as helpful, and we want to be seen as a part of the community. One of the ways we can do that is by giving back to the people we serve on a daily basis.”
As of Dec. 9, the drive had collected 198 donations with the intent to give back to K-State families and create a memorable holiday season for those in need.
“I’m really hoping that this will help take some of the financial burden off of our families,” Tucker said. “This holiday season has been rough for a lot of people, whether it’s feeling underemployed or unemployed in this economy and inflation. I know there was a lot of chatter in our office with our employees about what they’re cutting back on this year, and I hope this [drive] makes it easier for them.”
On Dec. 12, from 3-5 p.m., Parking Services will host a toy giveaway using the drive’s donations in the KSU Ballroom in the Student Union for all K-State families.
“Whether you’re an undergraduate student or a graduate student, you can come by the Student Union with your K-State ID and your child; they can pick out what they want from the toy table,” Tucker said. “We will have Santa there and hot chocolate from Radinas with other giveaways and prizes as well.”
