If Bonnie Ragsdale were Santa Claus, every Penn faculty and staff member would be airlifted to the North Pole, shod with a pair of elf shoes and put to work on the toy assembly line.

Bonnie isn't Santa, but she comes close. About seven years ago, she and others who work in the Franklin Building informally started collecting toys to distribute to West Philadelphia children whose Christmases would otherwise have been sparse. Their efforts snowballed and, five years ago, became an official toy drive across campus organized by Ms. Ragsdale's army, Penn VIPS (Volunteers in Public Service). Ms. Ragsdale has often been called "the mother of Penn VIPS." Her title is director of Penn VIPS, but her day job is staff assistant in the Office of the Executive Vice President.

Penn VIPS is doing it again this year--collecting toys and food for children and adults in need throughout West Philadelphia.

"The need is great out there," Ms. Ragsdale said last week when visiting one of several collection sites, the Police Mini Station at 3927 Walnut St. Children and families at St. Barnabas Mission will receive toys, adult gifts and food, she explained. Toys will also be distributed through Bebashi, a social service agency, to more than 600 children with HIV/AIDS at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and the Strawberry Mansion Health Center.

Penn VIPS has 11 drop-off points across campus, and some individual schools and departments have additional collection spots within their locations. (See below.)

Donors are urged to wrap their gifts and indicate the age and gender appropriate to each gift. The collection drive will wind up on Wednesday, Dec. 20. The following day, the Ragsdale volunteer army begins sorting and packaging the gifts and food items at the Faculty Club.

Toys collected at President Judith Rodin's holiday reception are also brought to the Faculty Club for distribution with the Penn VIPS items. Last year's reception produced "bags and bags of gifts"--500 to 600--Ms. Ragsdale reported.

Operation Santa Claus also brightens the holiday season for youngsters and senior citizens. A party will be hosted for residents of three West Philadelphia nursing homes (Mercy Douglas, The Ralston House and Stephen Smith Nursing Homes) and children from St. Vincent's Orphanage. The luncheon will be held Dec. 21 at the Faculty Club and gifts from Santa will be distributed.

Volunteers and donations are needed to assure the event's success for the eighth consecutive year. Contact John DeLong (898-7239) or Yvonne Oronzio (898-4210) in the Student Financial Services office and specify what type of gift you would like to donate. Physical-plant employees can contact George Rael in the Locksmith's Shop.

Gifts suggested for senior citizens include sweat pants/shirts (men's large and XL; women's medium and large); men's socks, T-shirts, undershirts, thermals; women's thermals; dusting powder; slippers without backs (not the sock type) in men's medium and large, women's small, medium and large; men's and women's sweaters and vests (all sizes); trivia games, puzzles, chess, checkers and card games.

Gifts should be wrapped with an outside label indicating the size and appropriate gender. Monetary donations also are appreciated and will help offset the cost of the luncheon and transportation.

Donations to the Penn VIPS toy and food drive can be dropped off at the locations listed below. For more information, contact the Penn VIPS volunteer in the right-hand column.

Book Store, Velda Williams, 898-5920

College Hall, Rm. 202, Jo-Ann Zoll, 898-7599

Franklin Bldg., Rm. 728, Bonnie Ragsdale, 898-2020

Houston Hall, Rm. 200, Tania Caceres, 898-4831

Museum, Bonnie Crosfield, 898-4001

Van Pelt Library, Rachelle Nelson, 898-5938

Veterinary School, Trish diPietrae, 898-8842

Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, Bob Zarazowski, 898-1291

3401 Walnut St., Rm. 234A, Phyllis Vizzachero, 898-7903

3401 Walnut St., Rm. 233A, Jeannette Booker, 898-1906

3927 Walnut St. (Police Mini Station), Lt. Sue Holmes, 898-4481