TERRE HAUTE, IN ? Santa Clause is definitely pleased with the Indiana State University women's soccer team this holiday season. Why? Because this past Wednesday, the girls spent over $400 on more than 80 toys that they donated to Toys for Tots, an organization that collects Christmas gifts each year for needy children in the community.
Juniors Erin Gibson and Erin Bianchi were the spearheads for the Toys for Tots idea. Throughout their time as players on the soccer team, they were asked numerous times by friends, family, and fans for ISU soccer t-shirts. So after contemplating what they could do this Christmas to ensure that every child had something to open come December 25th, they put two and two together. Why not sell soccer t-shirts and use the proceeds to buy toys for underprivileged children during Christmas? That's exactly what they did.
“We liked that we were able to help out children and do our part to make sure that every kid had a gift to open on Christmas,” said Bianchi.
“When the time came to actually go shopping, we all got excited,” added Gibson. “It was neat to be able to go through the store and see things we liked when we were little.”
So it is because of our Indiana State soccer team that eighty less children will be left without a gift this Christmas.
“We could only imagine how much joy the toys would bring the kids,” said Bianchi. “We learned that when you make someone smile, it makes you feel just as happy as that person, if not more.”
“This is the season of giving,” commented Gibson. “Our team is the reason why the eyes of eighty more children will light up this Christmas. What more could you ask for?”
Nothing.
