SU Volunteers for the Holidays

SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University students, faculty and staff are preparing for the holidays with projects that benefit the whole community. The following is a sampling:

TOYS FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER:  The SU Student Nurses Association is collecting new, unused toys for Toys for Children with Cancer through Wednesday, December 5, in Devilbiss Hall Room 224. The SNA also is collecting used coats, clothes, canned goods and hygiene products for the Student Government Association's annual "Fill the Square" efforts (see below).

BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR:  SU’s Administration and Finance Division has invited the campus community to “Be a Santa to a Senior” through Home Instead Senior Care’s annual holiday campaign. Through Thursday, December 13, participants may choose an ornament from trees on campus inscribed with the name and wish list for an area senior who may be financially challenged or alone for the holidays. Those selecting ornaments are asked to purchase items from the list, wrap them and return them for distribution by Home Instead.

TOYS FOR TOTS:  Participants in the SU Intramural Office’s 36th annual Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run were asked to bring in a toy or make a $5 donation to Toys for Tots. The Franklin P. Perdue School of Business also is collecting items for Toys for Tots through Friday, December 14.

ANIMAL SUPPLY DRIVE:  SU Libraries reminds the community that people are not the only beings who are homeless and hungry during its annual “Fill a Bowl — Save a Life” drive to benefit area animal shelters. The drive continues through Saturday, December 15. A list of needed items, such as dog and cat food, and collection boxes are located near the Library Services Desk in the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons and at the Dr. Ernie Bond Curriculum Resource Center in Conway Hall.

TOURNAMENT OF TREES:  The Guerrieri Student Union hosts its 14th annual Tournament of Trees from December 3-10. SU organizations decorate 3-foot, pre-lit Christmas trees for a chance to win prizes. The trees are displayed in the center’s Fireside Lounge, with prizes for the top three, before being given to local shelters.

ETA SIGMA GAMMA:  Members of SU’s chapter of the Eta Sigma Gamma national health education honor society have signed up to assist with the American Cancer Society’s annual holiday luncheon and fashion show Tuesday, December 4, at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, MD. Chapter members also are participating in Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry, through which shoeboxes filled with toys and other small gifts are delivered to children in need worldwide.

KETTLE CAMPAIGN:  The Salisbury Pops collects donations for the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign during its annual Holiday Concert 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 4, in Holloway Hall Auditorium. Perdue School students also are ringing bells for the Salvation Army this season.

FILL THE SQUARE:  SU’s Student Government Association inviteed students to “Fill the Square” with coats and non-perishable food items to benefit local shelters and food banks in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri Student Union.

HELPING HALO:  Members of SU's athletics community and the Samuel W. and Marilyn C. Seidel School of Education volunteer twice a week throughout the semester to purchase, cook and serve berakfast to homeless individuals through Hope and Life Outreach (HALO) Ministries. Participating organizations include the SU baseball, women's baksetball, woem's soccer, football and field hockey teams, Learning Leadership students, athletic training staff, and members of SU's chapters of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ).

CHRISTMAS WITH THE JAYCEES:  Several student organizations have signed up to chaperone children in need when they purchase gifts for loved ones and themselves during the Salisbury Jaycees’ 50th annual Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour.

FOSTER CARE GIFTS:  SU’s Social Work Student Association is continuing its annual tradition of collecting holiday gifts for children in foster care. The initiative began over a decade ago.

EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTERS:  SU student volunteerism is not confined just to the main campus. Throughout the semester, those in SU’s social work satellite program at Cecil College have collected items such as pillows and linens for the Cecil County Emergency Rotating Shelter program, providing homeless individuals with temporary places to stay during the winter months.

SLEEPING OUT FOR THE HOMELESS:  Members of SU’s Phi Beta Sigma fraternity spent a night “Sleeping Out for the Homeless” on campus during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in November. During the eight-hour event, participants collected toiletries and non-perishable food items for local homeless shelters.

OPERATION WE CARE:  Members of SU’s Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity joined nearly 200 other community volunteers to create some 800 holiday care packages sent to military troops serving overseas through local nonprofit Operation We Care.

I LOVE SALISBURY:  Hundreds of students partnered with community neighbors to pick up litter, rake leaves, sweep and perform other tasks during the Student Government Association’s 11th annual “I Love Salisbury” cleanup event in November.

MARYLAND CHARITY CAMPAIGN:  Throughout the season, SU faculty and staff donate to organizations across the state through the Maryland Charity Campaign. The program raises more than $3 million annually for Maryland non-profits.

INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS:  Individually, faculty, staff and their families also are caroling at local nursing homes, adopting families through Hope and Life Outreach Ministries (HALO) and stuffing stockings with gifts for children through the Salvation Army.

For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website.