Tamales for toys; CSUEB greek organization gives back to Hayward kids

• January 14, 2013 5:53am

Submitted by Bernardo Godinez, Gamma Zeta Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. - Tau chapter (CSUEB)

For the past three years, the Tau Chapter of Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Cal State East Bay held a tamales sale during the month of December as a way to both celebrate Mexican culture and to raise money for the Tau's annual toy drive. We then used the profits from our tamales sale to purchase holiday gifts for needy Hayward children.

Our first year, we bought and delivered 50 toys to children hospitalized in a Hayward hospital over the holidays. In 2011, we purchased over 100 toys to give to children living in an underprivileged Hayward neighborhood.  This year we purchased over 300 toys and, on Dec. 20, 2012, Tau members played the role of Santa’s elves and delivered these toys to the children of Eldridge Elementary School in Hayward. We traveled from classroom to classroom handing out toys. It was joy for all participants to see the children's faces light up with joy.

Next year, we challenge the CSUEB community to buy more tamales so that we may bring the joy of the holidays to even more local children.

For more information, please contact Gamma Zeta Alpha at tau.gammas@gmail.com

KL