JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 6, 2006) - The ETSU Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted a Toys for Tots Christmas party Wednesday night in Memorial Center. There the student athletes greeted and talked with children from the local Johnson City Community. With Christmas in just a few weeks and the athletes nearing the end of the fall semester, the gathering gave children the opportunity to experience the thrill of Christmas and the chance to meet student athletes.

Children from one to 10 were welcomed by the athletes before they were seated and waited to receive Christmas presents. Each child went to sit on Santa's knee where they were given three gifts each.

"The event gives young kids a Christmas party and it is fun to get the athletes involved," said strength and conditioning coach Lee Morrow "It is really neat when you have college aged athletes doing stuff like this." ETSU receives gifts for Toys for Tots thanks to generous donations from the Salvation Army and this year the track team was able to supplement the supply.

Coach Morrow has worked with SAAC members to keep Toys for Tots running since the first event in 1991. "I like the athletes to be able to handle this, I like to take a step back and let them organize the children," said Morrow.

SAAC representative and senior women's volleyball player Sarah Buhr (Stockton, Calif.) helped to organize the event. "It is very rewarding to be able to give back to the community during the holidays. Seeing the look on those kid's faces when the get their presents reminds you what Christmas is all about."

The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics takes pride in its community service activities and strives for 100 percent participation from its student-athletes, coaches and administrators throughout the year.