During this holiday season, Florida National University (FNU) participated in the Adopt A Classroom Toy Drive. The objective was to provide toys to young children from low income families. This year, Florida National University adopted a preschool classroom at Centro Mater West Child Care located in Hialeah Gardens, Florida.
FNU’s Student Services asked each department to donate two toys. One toy was for a girl and the other was for a boy. On December 19th, FNU faculty and staff members delivered the toys to the Child Care center. FNU’s South Campus Assistant Dean Bernardo Navarro, who was very instrumental in organizing and implementing the toy drive, was part of the team that delivered the toys. As the toys were being handed out to the children, Mr. Navarro experienced a very special holiday moment. Here is his account of what happened.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all your help and hard work with the Centro Mater West toy drive. I had the pleasure of helping deliver the toys to the children yesterday. The children were extremely grateful, as well as their parents teachers and other staff members. I would like to share a story with all of you, so you can understand the impact we can make in a child’s life.
There was this little girl who lives with her mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Currently the mother is unemployed and is trying her hardest to make ends meet. Coming from a low income family, this little girl was definitely not going to get everything on her list. The number one thing on her list was a Cinderella and Prince Charming large doll set. Coincidentally when she opened her gift it was the doll set that she had wanted so badly. When her mother picked her up, she ran up to her and said “Look Santa heard what I wanted and brought it to me”. The mom began to cry and explained to the teacher how grateful she was because she was not going to be able to afford it.
We have just made that little girl’s Christmas. This is just one example of the many wishes we made come true. Once again, I would like to thank everyone who participated. A very special thank you goes out to Mrs. Regueiro for supporting this cause, and to Student Services who put it together and wrapped all the gifts. Hopefully, we can do it again next year.”
Bernardo Navarro
Assistant Dean
Florida National University
South Campus
