Spirit of Giving Spreads throughout Campus
December 08, 2008
As the holidays approach, the spirit of giving and helping others is on everyone's mind, including members of the Stonehill community. Throughout campus people are reaching out to those in need during these difficult times in a variety of ways.
During the annual Festival of Light and Hope on December 2, Rev. Thomas Looney, C.S.C. '82 , vice president for mission, reminded students, faculty, and staff in attendance of the true meaning of the holidays and their traditions.
In his remarks, Fr. Looney said, "Christmas is a wonderful moment to express our love and care for others through the giving of gifts. It is a tradition that goes back to a saintly Catholic bishop named Nicholas, who following the teachings of Jesus, cared for the poor and provided gifts anonymously to families in need during the Christmas season. This saintly man, St. Nicholas, became known as Old Saint Nick, or Santa Claus."
Listed below are samplings of the many activities members of the Stonehill community are taking part in to help make the holidays a special time for everyone.
Alumni Gift Wrap
Alumni gathered on Friday, December 12 to help wrap donated toys for My Brother's Keeper, an Easton-based volunteer Christian Ministry which delivers food, furniture, and household items free of charge to people in need in southeastern Massachusetts. The My Brother's Keeper Christmas program began in Brockton in 1991 and has grown to assist families in 60 communities. Everyone in attendance was asked to bring one new toy per person.
Giving Tree
Faculty, staff and students are helping give local families in need a nice Christmas. Campus Ministry collected donated gifts for families connected with Fr. Bill's and Mainspring's "One Family Scholar Program" and Taunton State Hospital. A Giving Tree (pictured above) has been decorated with gift tags in the gathering space in the back of the Chapel of Mary, where people chose a tag.
Skyhawk Toy Drives
The Skyhawk football and baseball teams have both organized toy drives to benefit the Toys for Tots program and Hurricane Katrina victims. The football team collected new toys, books, and supplies at their final home game of the season in November to aid the New York City Fire Department's effort for Katrina victims. The baseball team also collected gifts at a recent men's and women's basketball games in conjunction with the Toys for Tots program.
Coat Drive
Stonehill participated in the 14th annual Coats for Kids Drive to help provide warm winter coats to many local children for the cold winter months. Each coat that was collected will be cleaned by Anton's Cleaners, and distributed by many organizations including Big Brother Big Sister, Cradles to Crayons, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, the Salvation Army, and many more.
Blanket Drive
Campus Ministry is collecting blankets for Fr. Bill's and MainSpring Shelters as they are in desperate need of blankets for the winter season. Blankets may be brought to the Campus Ministry office. They must be standard twin size, non-comforter, and non-knit. The shelters are also in need of standard twin sheets or large bath towels as homelessness in Massachusetts has reached an all-time high.
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