Pfc. David Caballero spent 21 years in active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps and another year as a police officer.

Now Cabellero has a new line of duty - organizing toy collections.

The national Toys for Tots program, which hit the campus at the beginning of this month, collects toys for children for the holidays.

The program, run by the Marine Corps Reserve since 1947, has become a mainstay throughout communities around the country.

When the Marine Corps Reserves was called on to take a large role in national security during the 1970s, officials decided to accept only new, unwrapped toys to speed up the distribution process.

In 1991 the Toys for Tots Foundation was created with the sole purpose of collecting new toys for children.

Along with his normal duties as a police officer, Caballero has been meeting with Residence Life, UAPD Police Chief Anthony Daykin and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to make sure the collection of toys is run properly.

And it's all worth it, Caballero said. "It really will bring a smile to the faces of kids that otherwise would not get very much, if anything."

ASUA will also be taking part in the giving campaign. They have set up selection sites in numerous locations on campus.

Ovett Chapman, ASUA community development director, said the program is a great chance for students, faculty and staff to help others in the community.

"How ever many toys we collect is more than we would have in the first place," he said. "We're looking for as many toys as we can get."

ASUA will sponsor a drive on the UA Mall from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5. The large collection drive will happen each day from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The collection location for the UAPD drive may be a little daunting for some students, Caballero said.

Located in the lobby of the police station, the collection box has yet to see any visitors.

Caballero understands why people may be apprehensive, but he said some might find UAPD headquarters a little more welcoming once they bring in some donations.

"A lot of times when we see people it is because we're taking action that may be unpopular with the community here," he said. "We thought that if people came down to the station, they'd see that we're not so bad after all."

Caballero has met with Residence Life to get some drop-off boxes in the residence halls. He said students might be more apt to give if the boxes are closer to home.

Although it is his first time at the helm of a volunteer, philanthropic event, Caballero is already planning for the years to come.

"Every year, we're going to try to beat the previous year," he said. "It's strictly voluntary and comes from the kindness of people's hearts."