TKEs, Tri-Sigmas toy up for Christmas

With the holidays approaching, some sororities and fraternities are embracing the giving spirit of the season by organizing a toy drive to benefit Huntsville’s less fortunate.Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and the Tri-Sigma sorority have organized a “toys for tots” charity drive to continue until Dec. 7. The drive is coordinated by William Meadors, the fraternities chairman of PR and community service, and also by Tri-Sigma’s Christina Rike. All toys collected during the drive will be donated to the Huntsville SAAFE House and area churches to benefit families in need this holiday season. The Huntsville SAAFE House shelters women and children who are fleeing from abusive situations. SAAFE House employees are asking for any new or even used toys that are in good condition. “We’re trying to get as many toys possible in order to help as much as we can,” said Meadors.Donations may be dropped off from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday in the Mall Area. Other donation drop locations include the Huntsville police station, the Carriage Inn, the Alpha Delta Phi, Zeta Tau Zeta and Alpha Kai Omega houses. Donation boxes are also in the process of being established at Wal-Mart and at other fraternity houses.”We want to show people the positive things we do and shed the negative stereotyping we get,” said Meadors.A representative of the Huntsville police department said these organizations are the first to have a toy drive such as this. Both Tau Kappa Epsilon and Tri-Sigma are encouraging any campus organizations or individuals interested to get involved. The organizations have gotten KSAM and The Huntsville Item to announce information in order to get both businesses and the Huntsville community involved. In addition to the toy drive, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Tri-Sigma will prepare a Thanksgiving meal for the residents of the SAAFE house.”We’re going to make a couple of turkeys and some side dishes, and take them in to those currently staying at the SAAFE house,” said Meadors.For more information on the toy drive and drop off locations, call 295-8494.