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MDL reservists team up with Rutgers students for toy drive

  • Published
  • By Christian Deluca
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Air Force Reservists from the 42nd Combat Communications Squadron here teamed up with students at Rutgers University  to host a toy drive and fundraiser Nov. 13 at the Camden Campus.

During the RU 4 The Kids drive, students collect new toys and money for the Toys for Tots Foundation, Children's Regional Hospital at Cooper and the Ronald McDonald House. All donations are dispersed locally.

"It's been going great so far," said Katherine Nguyen, a junior nursing student at Rutgers Camden and head of the volunteer council. "We have drop-off boxes for toy donations throughout the campus. We're having multiple bake sales. We're selling T-Shirts with the RU 4 The Kids logo, which we've almost sold out of. We've received tons of donations so far."

Last year the drive raised more than $3,000 in donations and enough toys to almost fill three U-Haul trucks. Senior Airmen Rob Konopka, 42nd CBCS and nursing student at Rutgers Camden, believes they will be able to top that this year.

"We've been getting more support than last year," Konopka said. He credits a more robust marketing campaign for the increased turnout.

Konopka, who came up with the idea for a drive last year, said it was the Air Force ethos that drove him to put it together.

"The Air Force teaches service before self. That doesn't mean just while you're working within the Air Force, but also out in the community," he said. "Last year, I reached out to my unit and they were all for it. Then I reached out to Rutgers and they loved it. So I teamed up with the volunteer council and student veterans and we put the first drive together."

During the recent drive, wingmen from the 42nd CBCS and other partners from the base came to the Camden Campus to show their support and help the cause.

"Anytime we can work together with our partners and do something positive, I'm all for it," said Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Valenzuela, Joint Training and Training Development Center, Fort Dix.

Master Sgt. Vincent Major, 42nd CBCS said, "These types of events are the other part of being an Airman. To serve the community, as well as, the Air Force as a whole. It is a blessing to be here and it is our duty to give back."