2025 Toy Drive: A Season of Giving and Community Impact
The holiday season at CU Anschutz was brighter than ever thanks to the incredible generosity of our campus community.
Dec 23, 2025
After hearing the callout from the CU Anschutz Staff Council Campus & Community Engagement Committee, staff, faculty and students stepped up and donated toys to make the 2025 Toy Drive a resounding success.
The Toy Drive focused on collecting new, unwrapped toys for children aged 5–18, benefiting two local organizations:
- Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver
- Sheridan Family Health Clinic
The Toy Drive ran from November 5 to December 18, 2025, with drop-off locations conveniently placed across campus, including AHSB, AO1, ED2N, Fitzsimons, RC1 and RC2 (North and South) and the School of Dental Medicine building.
As part of the 2025 Toy Drive, this bin in the Fitzsimons building
collected toys including puzzles, bubbles, and a backpack.
Justin Grube, Committee Chair, had to literally jam his car full of toys collected during the drive. When he pulled up to the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver on December 19, staff members were amazed at the sheer volume of donations. It was a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of giving. They all expressed heartfelt gratitude for the generosity of our campus community. We also donated 30 toys to the Sheridan Family Health Clinic for their holiday toy drive, ensuring even more children experienced joy this season.
Bags and boxes of donated toys loaded into Justin's car
with the rear passenger seats folded down for extra space.
But the giving didn’t stop there. In an unexpected twist, the drive also gathered five bags of clothing, which were donated to Mutual Aid Monday, and several pounds of food, which went to the CU Anschutz Food Pantry. These extra contributions highlight the compassion and resourcefulness of our CU Anschutz community.
This initiative wasn’t just about toys—it was about community, kindness and connection. This coordinated effort helped create joyful experiences for children and families who might otherwise go without. The Toy Drive reflects Staff Council’s ongoing commitment to strengthening internal relationships while supporting the broader community.
The success of the 2025 Toy Drive is a testament to what we can achieve together. From toys to clothing to food, every contribution made a difference. Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered and spread the word. Your generosity turned a simple idea into a season of giving that will be remembered for years to come.