The Mayville State University Comets women’s basketball team collected 130 toys in their “Toys for Tickets” campaign that was conducted during home basketball games December 2 and 6. Those who made a toy donation to the cause gained free admission to the games on those evenings.
“Thank you to everyone who participated and helped us in our ‘Toys for Tickets’ campaign,” said MSU women’s basketball head coach Dennis Hutter. “It is with great joy that I say we not only reached our goal of collecting 100 toys, we surpassed it! We are happy that with the help of many generous donors and Comets fans, several children in Traill County will enjoy a wonderful Christmas.”
The team has conducted the “Toys for Tickets” each Christmas for the last few years. The highest number of toys collected in the annual drive was previously 86.
The toys will now become a part of the Traill County Community Giving Project. Through the Giving Project, many boys, girls, elderly and/or disabled adults, and families will receive gifts this Christmas.
The work of the Traill County Community Giving Project begins long before Christmas, when the family services coordinator with the Mayville State University Child Development Programs and Traill County Social Services personnel get together to develop a referral list. Applications are distributed to those referred, and when the applications are returned these people become recipients of the project in various ways.
Each family will receive a gift card for food and a household necessities gift basket.
In addition, the children, disabled, and elderly become beneficiaries of the Angel Tree Project. Angel trees are placed in various locations around the county, and those who wish to help out, can choose a paper ornament from the tree (which has the requested gift listed on the back) and purchase the gift requested. After doing so, the gifts are left at the Mayville State Child Development Programs offices, the Goose River Bank offices in Mayville, Hillsboro, and Hatton, or at the offices of Traill County Social Services in Hillsboro, in preparation for distribution day.
On Thursday, Dec. 18, beneficiaries will stop by Mayville Lutheran Church, where they can pick up the Angel Tree gifts, gift cards, and gift baskets, and here’s where the “Toys for Tickets” arrive on the scene. The toys will go into the “Santa Room,” and parents are invited to select toys for their children that will become their gifts from Santa.
There are still a number of needs to be fulfilled this year. If you’re interested in helping out, please contact JoAnna Nielson at Mayville State’s Child Development Programs, 701-788-4661.
Photo: Generous donors and Comets fans donated 130 toys in the “Toys for Tickets” campaign conducted by the Mayville State women’s basketball team. The toys have a temporary home under the tree at the MSU Wellness Center, and will soon be transported to Mayville Lutheran Church, where parents of children whose children are beneficiaries of the Traill County Community Giving Project will have an opportunity to select a “Santa gift” for their children.