Blair Academy supports Season of Hope toy drive

NEWTON — Students, staff, faculty and the children of Blair Academy faculty members are competing in the Stuff the Stocking contest on behalf of the Season of Hope Toy Drive, a community-wide effort which aims to gather 20,000 new and unwrapped items for children of all ages.

The gifts will be distributed to families in Sussex and northern Warren counties this month. Blair Academy is just one of 27 elementary schools, middle schools and high schools which are competing for the Stuff the Stocking trophy. The school which gathers the most toys will receive a donation for its student activities fund, and have the honor of defending the trophy during the next holiday season.

Led by Project Self-Sufficiency, the consortium of local enterprises behind the Season of Hope Toy Drive also includes Charm, the Chatterbox Drive-In, iHeartMedia, Intercar Mercedes Benz, Pass it Along, Selective Insurance Company of America, Skylands Stadium, Sussex County Chamber of Commerce, Sussex Honda, The New Jersey Herald, The Printing Center, and Toys for Tots.

“We have worked with Project Self-Sufficiency for many years, and the students have always responded very enthusiastically," said Kaye Evans, English teacher and one of the coordinators of community service at Blair Academy. "We like our students to get out and give back to the community."

She noted that even the families of faculty members contributed to the effort.

In addition to new and unwrapped toys, the donation of gift cards, wrapping paper, gift bags, gift boxes and stocking stuffers are always appreciated.