News

Campuswide efforts add season’s spirit to area families

Administrators, faculty, staff and students generously give to benefit those less fortuante

12/24/02

In the spirit of giving and the holiday season, the University has added a little sparkle to the Christmas trees of hundreds of people in the surrounding communities. During the past month, departments, offices and organizations within the University have conducted a variety of efforts aimed at collecting gifts, providing food or serving others within Greater Cincinnati who are not as financially fortunate. In Bellarmine Chapel, more than 300 envelopes were adopted from the “giving tree” in the building’s lobby. The tree was decorated with envelopes that contained the names of area children and gifts that they had on their wish lists. Also, more than 52 families were provided gifts thanks to an effort coordinated by the University’s office of commuter services. The office took part in the Adopt-a-Family program set up by the Hamilton County Social Services Agency. Organizations and offices throughout the University chipped in to “adopt” these families and buy them gifts. To ensure people stay warm during the winter, the University’s St. Vincent de Paul Society held a coat and clothing drive on campus. The society placed donation boxes for new or gently worn coats or clothing throughout the University, which were filled by University students and employees. To make sure no one went hungry, the McDonald Library set up a program in which students who just couldn’t let go of their books by their due date could have their fines forgiven in exchange for a canned good. The food-for-fines canned goods drive benefited the Drop Inn Center of Cincinnati. The spirit of generosity spread to other parts of the University as well. The Division of University Relations, for instance, spent a day serving others at the Free Store/Food Bank. And it’s not yet over. The women’s basketball team is holding a toy drive during its Saturday, Dec. 21, game against the University of Pittsburgh. Anyone who donates a toy gets into the game for free. Toys collected during the game are being delivered to Matthew 25 Ministries.