GULF SHORES, Ala. — Mounds of toys and a row of bikes filled the cafeteria at Gulf Shores High School as students gathered for a celebratory ice cream party this week.

The celebration? More than a 1,000 toys raised for the Marine’s Toys for Tots program.

Students in the Gulf Shores school system got a lesson in giving this holiday season as the elementary, middle and high schools teamed up to show their charitable Dolphin spirit.

An 11-day drive turned into a mission, and the kids worked endlessly to bring extra cheer for Christmas to those less fortunate.

Orchestrated by the GSHS Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, students, teachers and parents from all three schools were encouraged to bring a toy or money to school to ensure every child in Baldwin County received a present Christmas morning.

Cmdr. Bruce McCandless oversees the NJROTC program at the high school and said the Toys for Tots drive has been occurring there almost since the school’s establishment nearly 10 years ago.

Originally, only the high school participated. But last year the middle school joined, and this year the elementary signed up too.

The team effort from about 1,500 students resulted in the collection of more than 1,000 toys and 10 bicycles.

“The students enjoy doing it,” McCandless said. “We throw an ice cream party for the classes that get the most toys, but I think students really realize there are people less fortunate than them and they are willing to help out.”

GSHS Principal Dr. Ernie Rosado said charity is an important message for these students to understand and keep with them for life.

“In order to receive, you have to give,” Rosado said. “To give a little bit back to their community, to see that it’s in need and that’s what we really want the kids to realize.”

Gulf Shores Middle School Principal Phillip Fountain said the fundraiser showed the students that not everyone is as fortunate as they are.

“We are blessed to have the things that we have,” Fountain said. “For those people, for those kids out there that are less fortunate do not have even the necessities. And for our kids to donate, whether it’s money or whether it's gifts, what they learn is this time of the year is about giving not receiving.”

The Toys for Tots program receives gift requests up to Dec. 1 and then sets their goal for toy donations accordingly.

Cpl. Raymond Matheny of the 3rd 4th Recon Company said that goal has already been exceeded by 1,000 toys and donations are still coming in.

Toys collected will go to needy families in Baldwin and Mobile counties.