It’s that time again. Long lines in the mall, spending more money than what you have, and moms fighting to get the last Kota the Triceratops for their young ones. It doesn’t matter that America is in one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression, because little Timmy needs his $300 triceratops.

And every year millions of people lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas: “It is better to give than to receive.”

Although Dec. 5 marks the end of Sigma Alpha Iota’s Christmas toy drive, the music women’s fraternity has been making it their mission to give back to the community through the gift of music. Their service project committee has been collecting musical toys in bins placed in Biever, Buddig, and Carrollton Halls, as well as one in the Communications/Music Complex.

SAI also made catalogs in which people could put money towards buying a new instrument. SAI member Erica Johnson, music education senior, said that on the first day of the drive, the fraternity raised $118 that would go to purchasing different instruments as well as toys.

“We are trying to raise money for musical toys like guitars and keyboards to help kids develop musically,” Johnson said. SAI will give these musical gifts to the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana this Christmas.

“We’ll be going over there to present the kids with the toys and then probably stay for a little while to sing Christmas carols with them,” recording secretary of SAI and project committee head, Kendall Griffin, music education junior said.

If you missed your chance to help out with the SAI toy drive, they will have different service projects every month, starting next semester.

“We try to get the word out to Loyola students about what we do and we love it when the Loyola community can be involved with the work that we do,” Griffin said.

In addition to community service, SAI will be hosting several events, ranging from a dance on Jan. 24 to their annual benefit concert in February.

Angie Hernandez can be reached at [email protected].