ARIN Organizes Holiday Toy Drive for Local Families
This holiday season, ARIN proudly rekindled its tradition of supporting families in need by organizing a toy drive in partnership with Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS). Over the past few weeks, employees came together to donate gifts for children of all ages, placing them under the festive holiday tree in our reception area. On 10 December, the ARIN team delivered the collected items to the NVFS offices in Falls Church, Virginia, to help bring a little extra cheer to local families.
The NVFS mission is to empower individuals and families to improve their quality of life and to promote community cooperation and support in responding to family needs, and the organization plays a vital role in strengthening the Northern Virginia community. ARIN is honored to support their efforts this holiday season.
The initiative marks the first holiday giving campaign ARIN has hosted since the pandemic, and the response from employees was inspiring. “Seeing the tree fill up with gifts was a reminder of how much we can accomplish together, especially for a good cause,” shared HR Generalist Natalie Harold. “Knowing these toys will bring joy to children and families in our area makes it that much more special.”
Left: Donated toys from ARIN staff collected under the holiday tree in the reception area of the ARIN office. Right: HR and Communications team members Natalie Harold, Erin Alligood, Mindy Engstrom, and Ashley Perks drop off ARIN’s gifts at NVFS.
The donations from ARIN staff numbered more than 100 and included a range of items requested by NVFS to meet the needs of children across age groups:
- Toys for Babies and Toddlers: Building blocks, art supplies, and interactive playsets
- For School-Age Kids: Board games, action figures, and science kits
- Teen Gifts: Gift cards, make-up, and more
Serving the Community
ARIN’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Erin Alligood, emphasized how the toy drive reflects ARIN’s core values. “Our commitment to service goes beyond our members and customers — it extends to the broader community,” she said. “This initiative allowed us to take action in a meaningful way, supporting local families during the holidays. It aligns perfectly with ARIN’s dedication to engagement, respect, and responsibility.”
For many employees, the drive wasn’t just about giving back — it was about fostering connection. “Participating in this initiative brought us closer as a team,” noted Receptionist Mindy Engstrom. “Seeing all the toys that NVFS collected was a special and heartwarming moment for all of us who dropped off ARIN’s donations. It reminded us how lucky we are and how much our actions can impact others.”
Erin Alligood, Chief Human Resources Officer, places a donation from ARIN’s toy drive amongst the gifts collected by NVFS.
This year’s toy drive not only spread holiday cheer but also reinforced ARIN’s dedication to nurturing an environment where every effort is recognized and contributes to something greater.
Thank you to everyone who participated in making this initiative a success. Together, we demonstrated the power of community and responsibility — values at the heart of ARIN’s work and culture. Here’s to continuing this tradition in the years to come!
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