Toys collected during the Woodrow Wilson Wildcat Band Holiday Party with Chris Evetts, Band Director and band students – photo submitted by Victor Aves
Woodrow Wilson High School managed a “Christmas miracle,” according to neighbor Victor Aves. He sent us this picture along with this story:
“An outpouring of love and support was shown by the East Dallas community as the Toys for Tots campaign started by the Woodrow Wilson Wildcat band was headed for disaster in it’s inaugural year. On Dec. 3, a toy collection for the Toys for Tots toy drive campaign was officially announced at the high school. Because of the ice storm and missed school days, the toy drive had only seventeen total toys collected by Dec. 10. In an effort to remind everyone again, the Woodrow Wildcat Band Booster members sent additional notices via e-mail, social media, phone calls and word of mouth. Then, the miracle started to happen. The Wildcat band performed its annual Christmas concert on Dec. 12 and the boxes began to fill up.  The original deadline of Dec. 13 was extended to Dec. 17 and by that time nearly 500 toys had been brought to the school — everything from Barbies to bicycles and board games!  Additional toys that were brought to the school after the deadline were donated to the Dallas Life Foundation. A huge thanks to the students, teachers and administration from the school for helping arrange this along with all of the feeder schools that participated in collecting toys, including JL Long Middle School Band and Lakewood Elementary.”
