Words on the wall: Students had the opportunity to write words of gratitude to veterans on a wall Nov. 11.
Shamir Aleem and Josa Lamont | Viewpoints staff
Nov. 13, 2014
Riverside City College Student Veterans Association launched its annual Operation Toy Drive this holiday season with tacos and flying projectiles on Nov. 11.
The event was held outside of the Martin Luther King Jr. building where students wrote statements of gratitude to Veteran’s on a wall.
They then received a red ticket that they could exchange for a taco meal at a stand just a few feet away.
The drive gathered toys and games for children in Riverside and the surrounding communities for Christmas and the holidays.
“We collect toys and give them to the local fire department who distributes them to local families,” said Garry James, RCC Student Veterans Association president.“Students can drop off their donations in the designated bin at the Veterans Resource Center.”
Because SVA had a taco vendor at last year’s Veterans celebration, they opted again to bring him back for this year’s event.
“There are many clubs and organizations on campus for veterans and those interested in working with veterans,” James said. “Veterans Clubs is a national chapter of Student Veterans of America and it gives the chance for veterans and those interested working with veterans the chance to serve as officers in a national organization.”
Other clubs participated in the drive and a day of thanksgiving with their own ideas to be more involved on campus.
The Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics club sought the SVA and asked about presenting a trebuche or catapult for their event, which they accepted with enthusiasm.
Each team builds their own castle made of cardboard and the objective is to knock them down with the trebuchets and catapults.
James wanted the event to make students on campus aware of the STEM club.
“STEM’s always looking for new people and we are new this semester and try expose students to what kind of engineers they want to be,” said Juan Marquez, STEM club president.
The SVA offers the students who get involved several opportunities for experience.
