The Black Student Union hosts new charity event

The University of Toledo Black Student Union held a charity lock-in event benefitting Toys for Tots and the Student Food Pantry on Wednesday, Dec. 2, in the Student Union Ingman Room.

Over fifty students dressed in pajamas attended the first-ever lock-in, bringing either a canned food item or a new toy for admission to the event. The lock-in was the brainchild of Kyndra Gaines, a freshman biology major and a member of the Freshmen Leadership Program a group within BSU.

“We were in a cabinet meeting and we were trying to think of events to do for our BSU week. She came up with the charity lock-in and we thought it was great when we looked more into it,” said MeKayla Pullins, vice director of the Freshman Leadership Program and a second-year studying biology.

According to Gaines, charity is the most important aspect of the event.

“We’re here for the kids by donating toys and we’re also donating canned goods for students that don’t have food,” Gaines said. “If they don’t have a canned good or toy, they could bring $3 to donate for Toys for Tots.”

Students attending the lock-in had their choice of board games to play and Madden and Mortal Combat were on projection screens. However, fellowship was the secondary goal according to Gaines.

“This week is all about BSU and growing closer … we’re really just trying to fellowship with one another and grow better bonds and relationships with one another, as well,” Gaines said.

Students discovered the lock-in through social media and advertisements for BSU week.

“We’ve been handing out flyers and did a Rocket Blast so everyone got to put it on their Instagram and what not. And we’ve been networking and telling our friends,” Gaines said.

According to BSU President Lance Price, Jr., the Freshman Leadership Program — which Gaines is a member of — is a mentorship program that focuses on professional development and is crucial for improving low retention rates.

“Definitely here on our campus, retention rates for students of color are pretty low … So if we can have a Freshman Leadership Program where we try to bolster and build up our freshmen to help alleviate that issue, that’s what it is here for,” Price said.

Gaines is excited about how the event turned out and hopeful for events in the future.

“This is the first year we’ve ever done something like this, but it is something I would consider talking to Lance about doing annually,” Gaines said.