Sammie Magee, 18, from Kansas, aids Kerr County flood victims and honors Robb Elementary shooting victims through her nonprofit, Sammie’s Toy Drive.
SAN ANTONIO — An 18-year-old from Kansas is on a mission to help the people of Kerr County after the devastating flooding. Not only is Sammie Magee helping out; she’s also honoring the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde.
Magee is the founder of the nonprofit Sammie’s Toy Drive. She started the organization shortly after the May 2022 school shooting that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers. Since then, she’s made it her mission to support children affected by tragedy one toy at a time.
“We work to honor the 21, one toy at a time, while also building community connection across state lines,” she said.
Magee is currently raising funds and will eventually collect toys for children in Kerr County who were impacted by recent floods. So far, she’s raised more than $800 in Amazon gift cards and is hoping to reach $1,000.
“I just want to help them with any necessities they have, and also help the kids with toys,” Magee said. “Especially focusing on the necessities as they build their lives back.”
She said her drive to support children is about giving them space to heal.
“Kids after a tragedy like this, everything is handled in such a sterile way,” Magee said. “They are children. They don’t understand. They’ve been thrown into this horrible situation. So making sure they have that space to heal is everything.”
Magee plans to visit Kerr County in November during her annual toy drive in Uvalde. Until then, she’ll continue raising funds and awareness from her home in Kansas.
“I am going to continue on their legacies as much as I can,” she said. “They were kind. They were lights in this world. Their lights can’t burn out just because of May 24.”