Spirit of giving unites Weber State with community
OGDEN, Utah – Students, faculty and staff at Weber State University are supporting the Community Christmas event to benefit those in need this holiday season.
Community Christmas is a nonprofit organization that provides gifts to more than 2,000 children in the Weber, Davis and Box Elder areas, and helps connect families to resources during the holiday season. For several years, the organization has partnered with the Weber State University Student Association’s Community Engagement Team and WSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning, or CCEL.
“We’re so excited to continue this partnership again this year. It’s such a great cause and a good opportunity for WSU to get involved,” said Teresa Martinez, CCEL interim co-director. “It’s always fulfilling to see how efforts on campus can benefit families right here in their own community.”
Community Christmas Giving Trees are located in the Shepherd Union Atrium on the WSU Ogden campus and the Stewart Center Atrium at WSU Davis.
Participants can choose one or multiple tags hanging on the Giving Trees and purchase the suggested item listed on the tag. Tags are available for pickup until Dec. 5, which is also the last day to drop off gifts. Participants can deliver unopened and unwrapped gifts in Shepherd Union Room 324 on the Ogden campus, or Stewart Center Suite 221 at WSU Davis.
Volunteers are needed Dec. 9 and 10 to sort and organize gifts for families. If members of any campus clubs or organizations participate in Community Christmas, they will receive funding for their club or organization after dropping off their gifts – a total of $20 for each member who participates. Those interested in volunteering can sign up with GivePulse.
“Participating in Community Christmas helps unite our students with the community,” said McLayne Arnold, student lead for Community Christmas. “We get to choose a tag and buy a gift, but we are also able to go and meet the families and children that receive these gifts. Projects such as this become lifelong service opportunities that everyone can participate in annually.”
Along with the Community Christmas event, WSU’s “Queering the Archives” and Special Collections department in the Stewart Library will hold a food and winter clothing drive. Food is donated to the Weber Cares pantry and gently used coats, hats and gloves are donated to Northern Utah AIDS Coalition. A list of needed items for the Weber Cares pantry can be found on their website. Donations can be dropped off on the first floor of the Stewart Library through Dec. 16.
Jordan Wise, Marketing & Communications
801-626-7948, jordanwise@weber.edu- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu