Drake University Nursing and Athletics Team Up for Operation Santa Toy Drive
Friday, January 10th, 2025
There was magic in the air at Drake University’s Knapp Center on December 12, 2024. And no, it wasn’t only due to the wins the Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams took over University of North Dakota and St. Ambrose University in the Holidays at the Knapp double-header. That evening saw the collection of over 500 toys that would make the season a little brighter for foster children in Iowa. The undertaking was made possible by Drake Athletics and the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. However, it all started with one Drake Nursing professor and a cause she held close to her heart.
Katie Scott, Assistant Professor of Nursing, began her time at Drake in July of 2024, as the new Accelerated Bachelor’s of Nursing (ABSN) program was preparing to launch. As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at the Blank Children’s STAR Center, a clinic that serves children who have experienced trauma or abuse, Scott frequently works with kids involved in the foster care or child welfare system. That’s how she found out about Operation Santa.
Operation Santa was born in 2022 as a part of the Foster SQUAD organization. One of the founding members, Traci Schermerhorn, was struggling to coordinate with her foster child’s biological mother to visit Santa. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by both foster children and parents during the holiday season, Schermerhorn saw the need for a dedicated space for foster, biological and kinship families to unite and celebrate together.
The inaugural Operation Santa Christmas Celebration, hosted by Foster SQUAD in collaboration with the Youth Law Center and Des Moines Public Library, gave 55 children the heartwarming opportunity for children in separate foster homes to reconnect and exchange gifts with their biological grandparents. A year later, the group extended their outreach to serve over 465 children in Central Iowa, including foster, kinship, and adoptive families as well as teens in supervised apartment living.
Scott became involved with the organization in 2023, after reaching out to see how the clinic could support Operation Santa. She and the entire team of staff volunteered and hosted the craft table at the event that year. They received outstanding feedback and were asked to continue their involvement in future years.
When Scott entered her position at Drake, she was already aware of the University’s rich history of community support and involvement. Right away, she knew that she wanted to connect the institution with Operation Santa. In what she mostly believed to be a shot in the dark, Katie reached out to Drake’s Athletic Department. To her surprise, the stars were already aligned. The holiday basketball double-header was being held just two days before the Operation Santa party. An official announcement via Drake platforms and local news stations was released promoting the Toy Drive, which would be hosted by Drake Athletics, Drake Nursing, and Foster SQUAD. For every toy donated, the public could receive free admission to both basketball games. It was a win-win.
On the night of the double header, several tables were set up around entrances to the Knapp Center, where toys were collected by volunteer “elves,” which included members of Foster SQUAD, faculty of various departments of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and their families, and students.
Scott noted that offering the opportunity to students was especially important, especially for those entering a health profession. The population of individuals who benefit from this event touch almost every aspect of society, from schools to healthcare to employment markets and beyond. Children exposed to trauma during childhood are predisposed to physical and mental health complications in adulthood.
“It’s important that people understand that small, seemingly insignificant investments can make incredible differences not only in the moment, but also in the future well-being of these children and young adults,” Scott said. “The notion of a holiday party being so significant may seem silly, but the sense of comfort, normalcy, and opportunity to relax and be a kid during what is often a very stressful time in their lives is incredibly meaningful and therapeutic.”
2024 saw another huge expansion in the reach of Operation Santa. Parties were held in 20 locations across the state of Iowa, hosted by 10 different nonprofit groups and serving over 2,800 children, including 750 in Polk County, who were able to make positive memories this season thanks to our sponsors, volunteers and donations. What kind of holiday cheer will next year bring?
