My Toy Soldier

Friday, December 2, 2005
By Matt Kerner 

Manhattanville College’s My Soldier program, a non-profit, politically neutral, adopt-a-soldier program founded by Manhattanville student and Iraq war veteran, Army Staff Sgt. Juan Salas, has gathered names of children with one or both parents deployed overseas and designed a program to give participants the opportunity to provide gifts to these children. 

My Toy Soldier was set up in a direct response to letters and e-mails received from soldiers who say the hardest part of being deployed is leaving behind their beloved families. Especially around the holidays, the situation can become increasingly bleak as many children and families of deployed soldiers face significant hard ship, financially and emotionally. 

“The response have just been terrific so far,” said Anne Gold, Director of Community Relations at Manhattanville. “It’s nice to be able to help these families who are financially strapped, who have left their regular paying jobs, and it will hopefully take the weight off the soldiers minds that at least their kids are getting presents for the holidays.”

To this point, approximately 100 children’s wishes have been fulfilled by 65-70 participants in the My Toy Soldier program. Children as young as 18 months and as old as 18 years have asked for presents varying from Tinkerbell slippers to dinosaur books and puzzles to video games. Some departments at Manhattanville have joined together to adopt a child and grant the three wishes on their list as a group for the holiday season.

“I think we’re accomplishing two things through this program,” said Gold. “First, we are helping the children and families of the soldiers enjoy the holidays. And second, we are also hopefully alleviating the financial and emotional pressure felt by the soldiers because of their concern and love for their families who they cannot be with for the holidays. We look at this as an opportunity to bring cheer to these families and make their holiday brighter.”

The program is holding a photo opportunity on Dec. 1 at Manhattanville College’s Reid Castle at 5 p.m., where program founders, dignitaries and participants will be in attendance to kick-off the new branch of the My Soldier program. “The holiday season is traditionally a time to show appreciation for others and share our good fortune with others in need,” said Gold. “My Toy Soldier is another example of the commitment we have to making things easier for military families and boost morale for the soldiers and their loved ones at home.”

Salas, one of the programs founders, will not be able to attend the scheduled photo opportunity because he has been invited to the White House as a part of the Department of Defense’s America Supports You program. Salas will meet Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and take a tour of the White House and Pentagon.