Head Start Gift Box Drive FAQs
Q: What is the COAR Gift Box Drive?
A: Each year, COAR conducts a gift box drive for children enrolled in the local Virginia Preschool Initiative and Head Start programs. This is a campus and community-wide effort to provide preschoolers in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania with toys, winter clothes, and school supplies before the holiday season. Students wrap gift boxes at the annual wrapping party to prepare for the campus-wide gift drive. Then faculty, staff, and students check out the boxes to fill up with items such as storybooks, coloring books, crayons, hats, gloves, and small toys. COAR students then deliver the gift boxes to local schools during finals week.
Q: How do I check out a gift box?
A: Each year, students table in the CRUC lobby. COAR members will be happy to help get you checked out with as many boxes as you would like. COAR students will also be stopping by academic buildings and offices with gift boxes to check out. Email coar@umw.edu with any questions.
Q: What if I don’t have time to go shopping?
A: Check out our Amazon wishlist or donate directly to our foundation account and we will fill a box for you!
Q: What goes in the gift box?
A: Required items that must be in the box are a small toy, hat, gloves, coloring book & crayons, kids’ toothbrush & toothpaste. You are allowed to add multiple items in addition, such as Play-Doh, small books, stuffed animals, superhero/action figures, and small dolls. Please do not include used items, food items, religious/political/war related items, or any items that are not safe for a 3-5 year old.
Q: What happens to the gift boxes?
A: Once COAR receives your box, we will check it through to make sure all items are correct and accounted for. In early December, we will deliver the boxes to the Head Start building (in Fredericksburg) and hand them out to students participating in Head Start classes. We will also schedule a box pick up for the administrators of the Head Start program in Spotsylvania.
Q: When and where do I turn in the gift box?
A: You can turn in the gift box to the Center for Community Engagement, located in CRUC suite 320. Students need to return their boxes by Tues. Nov. 26th, faculty and staff can return them Tues. Dec. 3rd.