S.A.L.E hosts first annual Toy Drive

The Student Alliance for Leadership and Education (S.A.L.E.) held a toy drive in the Recital Hall on Nov. 25 which featured performances by local artists and NEIU students.

Members of S.A.L.E, an organization originally from El Centro, collected new toys in their original packages for needy children from the local community. The event's performances included poetry, music and dancing, and refreshments were offered after the show.

Miguel Loeza, president of S.A.L.E. and a student in both the main campus and El Centro, managed the event and introduced the organization.

"S.A.L.E. started two years ago at El Centro; [its goals are] leadership, education, and community," said Loeza. "We've had potlucks, ceremony awards, and other events at El Centro, but this toy drive was the first event done at the Main Campus."

Victor Gonzalez, another student from El Centro and member of S.A.L.E., also had responsibilities during the event.

"I had to get the performers to come, promote the event and let every organization at Northeastern know about it," said Gonzalez. "I know the performers very well because some live around my neighborhood and others worked with me in other [events]."

Gonzalez is also in charge of personally distributing the gifts to children in need on Christmas Day.

"The people receiving the gifts will be from the 21st district and in those who live on the south side," he said. "I mainly want to give them to children in foster homes or hospitals. I still don't know where exactly, so I need some guidance in where to distribute them."

The total of gifts collected on a table near the entrance ranged from about 40 to 50, significantly more than Gonzalez expected.

"Our goal was at least 20 gifts," he said "I'm more than happy to have 50 gifts, especially since it's the first time we've hosted this event."

Like Loeza, Gonzalez understands the importance of S.A.L.E.'s service to the community.

"S.A.L.E. members help graduate all its students, tutor them, and get them involved in the community," said Gonzalez. "We're just not well-known because we're stuck in El Centro; so far, there are 10 members, but we're trying to get more at the Main Campus."

Men of Vision (M.O.V.), also originally from El Centro, helped organize the toy drive. As an "interest group," members hope to form the fraternity Omega Delta Phi at the Main Campus. Gonzalez says there is no recruitment yet for the fraternity, but that anyone is more than welcome to join M.O.V.

S.A.L.E. and M.O.V. interested some students at the Main Campus because of their goal to help others.

"[My friends and I] heard about the toy drive and decided to help, so we brought toys and set up the food in the back," said freshman Inez Agic. "We're also trying to start an organization to help with the community, like a sisterhood of M.O.V., so we're looking for more girls to join."

Agic said that although it was short notice to come up with a performance, she and her friends helped promote the event.

"We found out a week prior to the toy drive, so we walked around telling people to come, passed out flyers, and told people it would be fun to help the community."

At the end of the show, Loeza thanked the M.O.V., S.A.L.E members and the audience for "helping put a smile on a child's face."

"Remember, it's not for us, it's not for you," Loeza said. "It's for the community."

S.A.L.E. plans to make the toy drive an annual event at NEIU. Members will also try to enlist more performers and promote it a month before.