Mustang Toy Roundup hopes to bring joy to children in need

A year ago, Lukas Nossem had a grocery cart's wheels spinning as he darted around Wal-Mart. Smiles and laughter raised the spirit of the season.

"When I saw something I liked I just threw it in there," Nossem remembered. "I tried to remember what toys I liked when I was little and I went with them."

He and his Munster football teammates were buying toys for children they did not know. For more than 30 years the Mustang Toy Roundup has been bringing Christmas gifts to children suffering from poor economic conditions.

The toy drive has provided toys to approximately 800 Lake County children each of the past several year.

"As long as we have toys and money we'll take care of as many kids as we can," Munster football coach Leroy Marsh said.

New toys valued at $9 or more and monetary gifts can be dropped off at the athletic office at Munster High School, 8808 Columbia Ave., between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on school days.

All donations must be received by 3:30 p.m. this Monday so the Roundup will have time to distribute the gifts to the needy kids.

"If there is anyone who can help, we sure do appreciate it," Marsh said. "In these tough times there are a lot of kids and families who are struggling. A toy on Christmas morning could really make a difference for them."

Marsh had a team in the late 1970s that was selfish. A group that needed a life lesson in charity, good will and the Golden Rule. That's how the Roundup began.

"They thought of themselves more than others," Marsh said. "This project really helped. It's just grown and grown every year. I couldn't stop it now if I wanted to."

Marsh has networked with several area charities, along with school teachers and administrators, to put together a list of children in need. Several volunteers help the process.

On Tuesday, Munster's junior football players will go to Wal-Mart and buy toys with the money donated. That's what Nossem did last year.

The four-year starting linebacker dealt with his own tough luck this past season. He tore his ACL in June and faced a tough decision: to play through the injury or to miss his senior season.

He had surgery and they took his entire ACL out. He played in the 2011 campaign despite the occasional agony.

"There were times the pain was extreme," Nossem said, "but I just rested when I could and kept fighting."

Nossem had reconstructive surgery in November.

While the Times All-Area first-teamer knows his situation is nothing like an unemployed father trying to do the best for his family, Nossem believes he learned something through it all.

And it could be just as helpful as a teddy bear on Dec. 25.

"You just have to come to peace with your situation," he said. "You have to look forward, keep believing. I took advantage of the things surrounding me -- friends and family. I was in a bad situation but my surroundings helped me get through it.

"I had some really painful rehab. It was hard,  but I kept working and I knew things would improve."