UAFS toy toss nets 3,002 toys

Thanks to the generosity of University of Arkansas at Fort Smith basketball fans, area needy children will enjoy a much merrier Christmas this year.

UAFS collected 3,002 stuffed toys during its second annual Toy Toss, which was held on Dec. 2 when the Lions hosted the Henderson State Reddies in the Dr. Douglas W. Parker Jr., M.D. Memorial Lions Classic at the Stubblefield Center.

All of the toys collected will go to the Salvation Army, which will distribute them to families of needy children throughout Fort Smith and the surrounding area. UAFS men’s basketball coach Josh Newman was overwhelmed by the number of stuffed toys collected this year, which more than doubled last year’s total of about 1,200 toys.

“We are very thankful for all the support, involvement and the willingness to give to this year’s Toy Toss,” Newman said.

During his six seasons at UAFS, Newman has always stressed to his student-athletes the importance of community involvement and giving something back to the community that supports them.

Prior to the start of last season, Newman came up with the idea of the Toy Toss as a way to help the local chapter of the Salvation Army in its mission to help local needy families during the holiday season while also encouraging more fan support during games.

Each year, UAFS fans are asked to bring a stuffed toy to the Lions’ first game of the Dr. Douglas W. Parker Jr., M.D. Memorial Lions Classic, and after the Lions score their first point they are allowed to toss their toys onto the court in celebration. The act results in a technical foul against the Lions, but that’s irrelevant, Newman said, when you consider the greater good that is accomplished from the event.

“This event has become so much more than a basketball game,” Newman said. “The Toy Toss is quickly becoming a tradition that we hope will continue to allow us to impact thousands of needy children in our community.”