Christmas is just around the corner, and everyone is getting into the holiday spirit. It is a time of selfless giving, and also a time of remembering those less fortunate.

The simplest way that university students can give back is to put non-perishable foods, school supplies, clothes, and other items in the labeled recycling bins in the main lobby of each residence hall.

Peggy Kohler, Director of the university’s recycling branch of Facilities and Management Planning, said that they have been setting up those recycling bins since 2009, at the end of each semester.

Recycling has donated over 29,000 pounds of items to local charities.

“It’s a great way to ‘pay it forward’,” Kohler said.

University students can also participate in other sponsored events throughout the month.

A.U. G.I.V.S., Ashland student run service group, hosts an annual Stock the Sleigh event. Their goal is to collect new toys to donate to Associated Charities or Replay for Kids throughout the month of November. 

Associated Charities uses the toys to stock their Santa Room, where families in need gather toys for their children for Christmas. Replay for Kids’ mission is to increase the availability of toys and assistive devices for children with disabilities.

Calvin Wertman, volunteer service coordinator for this event, said the goal of this event is centered around the kids.

“We want to raise awareness of children with disabilities and increase the number and variety of toys and devices available to those children,” he said.

In this event, volunteers can help modify the toys to make it easier for kids with disabilities to play with them, which will be on Feb. 7. in Redwood Hall, starting at 7 p.m.

For more information or questions about what to donate and where to donate to, email Jennifer Washock, director of community service, at [email protected].

Not all charities are centered on Ashland University. Toys for Tots is a national toy gifting program. According to their website, drop-off zones for toys are not directly in Ashland, but there are a few in Mansfield and one in Jeromesville, and two in Ontario. 

The local community organization contact for Ashland is Peg Scheelk, who can be reached by phone at 419-554-8814.

Toys can always be dropped off at the national drop locations, which are either Toys”R”Us or Babies”R”Us. The closest Toys”R”Us 2196 West 4th Street & Lex-Springmill Road, Mansfield. 

Ashland County Job and Family Services is working throughout the holiday season to stock up Kim’s Korner, a program designed to help children in the system’s care.

Kim’s Korner is named after a previous county commissioner Kim Edwards, a woman who took a particular interest in the foster children there. She passed away from cancer during her term in 2014 and the program was dedicated in her memory.

Julie Shay, administrative assistant, said Kim’s Korner is a big closet that keeps donated clothes, toys, blankets, and other things to give to foster or protective supervision children when they need it.

“We utilize the items in that closet for any kids in our care,” Shay said. “You can also donate cash so we can buy the items we don’t have, or specific items we need for kids with special needs.”

Kim’s Korner tends to receive a lot of items for younger children, so there is a need for items that older teenagers can use.

“I think when you hear ‘foster care’ you think about grade-school age children or younger, so there isn’t much available in Kims corner for teenagers as a result,” Shay said.

For questions and more information, go to their website or call Julie Shay at 419-282-5028.

The Ashland County Job and Family Services building is located at 15 West 4th St, Ashland. Hours of operation are between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

“What you do is valuable,” Shay said. “When I see a child walking down our hallway clutching a new blanket, their blanket, you can see the comfort they get from that in their faces. It means a lot for the kids, especially for the holidays when they are out of their homes and out of their comfort zones.”