The beats of DJ Pedro Garcia filled the University of Idaho Student Union Building Gold and Silver rooms as students filtered into the Gamma Lambda Toy Express Dance Saturday night.
Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority and Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity sponsored the dance to collect toys and raise money for Christmas for Kids, a Moscow charitable organization.
Daniel Spaulding, a UI freshman, said he heard about the event from his mentors in Lambda Theta Phi.
“It’s a good cause for the kids,” Spaulding said. “It sounded like fun.”
The entrance fee to the event was either a new toy or a monetary donation. Hugo Velazquez, Lambda president, said about 100 people attended, donating 61 toys and $347 in all.
“Mostly toys for 8 years and younger — stuffed animals, little cars,” Velazquez said.
Velazquez said donations were about the same as the previous two years.
“Compare money-wise, last year we raised $200,” Velazquez said. “We almost doubled it.”
Velazquez said they will also help Christmas for Kids deliver the gifts Dec. 9 to 17.
Carlos Ibarria said he came to the dance because it was a good cause.
“It’s just a fun thing to do, to go to and give a toy or money, or whatever,” Ibarria said.
Daniel Urrutia, a member of Lambda Theta Phi, helped promote the dance by making posters and setting up displays.
“We wanted to make this a bigger event, since this is our third year doing it,” Urrutia said. “It started off slow (tonight), but it’s picking up.”
Urrutia said the men in his house are interested in helping people who are less fortunate.
“Especially for the holidays,” Urrutia said. “Not a lot of families — or children for that matter — can have as good a Christmas as others, and so one thing we really wanted to do was give them something special for the holidays.”
Urrutia said students should be aware that need does not begin and end with the holidays.
“We’ve helped out with the food bank in the past, and they’ve pushed to get as much (food) as they can,” Urrutia said. “Just be aware of what’s going on in the community and help out whenever you can and where you can.”