ASB’s Dollar Drive continues raising money

Ian Black
Staff Reporter
Once again the little containers are back in every classroom to collect the students’ spare change. This signifies one thing: Dollar Drive season. In the words of Senior Class President Karl Sandrich, the Dollar Drive’s goal is to “raise money to purchase gifts for under privileged children” in the Santa Barbara area during this holiday season. SBHS, and more specifically, ASB, began participating in the Dollar Drive “many years ago...” according to Sandrich. All the money that is collected in the containers is placed in an ASB account to purchase toys for the following year. The money that is raised from the winter of 2007 is used to buy toys for the winter of 2008.
Last year, close to $2300 was raised, but “ASB hopes to beat that amount by raising more than $2500” said Sandrich.
Every year before the Christmas holidays, the toys are bought from Kernahan Toys, a local toy store in Goleta. According to ASB President Jackie Zupsic, after the toys are bought, “the ASB class wraps the gifts [they] deliver them to the little kids, dressed up as elves and other ‘holiday’ characters.”
The toys go to the lower income preschools in the Santa Barbara community including Parma, Franklin, and Early Years.
Every year, after the Dollar Drive, there is a reward for the class that raises the most money, but Sandrich is quick to mention that “it is a surprise.” He also points out that English teacher Mr. Sandrich’s class usually raises the greatest amount of funds every year so “someone has got to try and beat him” and raise even more money.
Everyone should donate as often as they can because with 2500 kids at SBHS, a little bit can go a long way. Students have until December 14 to donate money to the Dollar Drive, when SBHS lets out for winter break.