In the midst of an economic crisis, the OU and Norman communities rallied together Wednesday and gave more to the “Fill the Trolley” initiative than ever before.

The goal of the “Fill the Trolley” initiative is to donate toys for the holidays to less fortunate families in Norman.

“The University community’s generosity never ceases to amaze me,” said Kris Glenn, marketing public relations for Cleveland Area Rapid Transit at OU.

This year, 52 student groups and organizations donated to Cleveland Area Rapid Transit “Fill the Trolley” initiative, up from 45 in 2007. This is the third year of the “Fill the Trolley” initiative.

“Every stop that we went to was absolutely full of gifts, it was basketballs and baby dolls and bicycles and action figures,” Glenn said. “It was absolutely unbelievable.”

The trolley made 52 stops Wednesday at Greek houses and businesses picking up boxes to take to the Cleveland County Christmas Store. The decorated boxes were overflowing with toys at each stop and took several hands to carry to the trolley.

Santa and his helper met the various student groups and organizations as the boxes were collected.

“It’s a great cause to give kids a good Christmas that they wouldn’t get to have,” economics junior Lindsey Ameen said.

She said this was the first year her sorority and numerous other organizations participated in the initiative.

To promote “Fill the Trolly,” Glenn went out in September and October to recruit campus organizations that would be willing to participate.

“I was very pleased with my sorority’s response to it and I’m very excited about participating next year,” Ameen said.

Glenn said the Christmas Store was worried they wouldn’t have enough toys for the less fortunate families this year. However, as a result of the success “Fill the Trolley” had this year, they will have plenty of gifts to give.

“It has been a remarkable day, being able to fill three trolleys for the first time ever,” Glenn said.

Linda McCarty, OU Information Technology and Staff Senate chair, said she enjoyed participating in the initiative this year.

“I enjoy working with charities and I do it each year, but this was just an opportunity to get the department to participate,” McCarty said.

The IT department served cookies and hot chocolate to help raise awareness on Nov. 19, and contributed in the gift giving.

IT was not the only OU department involved. Chris McNabb, a Financial Support Services employee, said he and his coworkers filled one box with toys in just a week and then filled a second.

Glenn attributes this year’s increase in gifts to the current economic crisis, because people understand that many have lost their jobs and are struggling.