Spring Break
Giving spirit alive, well at ETSU
Jaime Stanford
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: News
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The Little Bucs child care center in Warf-Pickel Hall has set up an angel tree to help the children that attend there.
"It's such a good feeling when parents come to pick up their kids and they see all the gifts," said Krista Turner, director of Little Bucs. "The parents of these kids are mostly college students and they don't have a bunch of money."
The angels, representing 22 boys and 13 girls at the center, have been flying off the tree as quick as Turner can hang them.
Student organizations on campus have called to take several angels at a time, Turner explained as she tied a ribbon to an angel she had just cut out. The donated presents are turned in to Turner and her staff. They will wrap them and then deliver them to the homes of the children or give them to the designated kids as they leave during exam week. Turner said the event was such a success that they are considering making it a holiday tradition.
The nontraditional student's honor society, Alpha Sigma Lambda (ASL), also sponsored a new charity this semester.
Wrapped shoeboxes filled with gifts for children were dropped off at the Adult Commuter and Transfer Services (ACTS) office on Nov. 9 and later delivered to a designated collection spot in Bristol, Tenn. This service allowed students who could not commit to being on campus during certain times to still participate, said Jeff Howard, assistant director of ACTS.
Patricia Cutspec's class, Communication in Organizations, raised money to benefit the Northside Elementary School in Johnson City. Students held bake sales and skate parties, sold tickets and asked for donations, among other things, to raise money for the school.
"We all worked so hard," said Ashlee Poppo, graduate student in the master's of professional communication program and CEO of the project. "But it was so worth it."
Cutspec said that the group raised $4,000 in all. After collecting wish lists from the elementary teachers, the group used the money to buy the needed items and fill large boxes for each teacher.
At a luncheon, the speech class students handed out the overflowing boxes to the teachers.
"We are very fortunate," said pre-kindergarten teacher Marci Pearson, "to have a group to come in and help us provide for the children."
"We wanted to give," said Cassidy Barnes, a senior majoring in speech and student of the organizations class. "And that's why we worked as hard as we did."
The Student Tennessee Education Association (STEA) group on campus sponsored a very successful book drive for Holston United Methodist Home of Greenville, Tenn., which houses and cares for orphaned and unwanted children in this region.
Kristie Shelton, a senior majoring in K-6 elementary education, and president of STEA, decided to help the home after reading an article in the Kingsport Times-News.
The group realized that they could not raise enough money to contribute toward a much-needed facility, so they decided to have a book drive instead.
"As educators, we know how critical it is for children to have access to printed materials," said Shelton. "Especially at an early age."
The group set up flyers, posters and drop-off locations at Warf-Pickel Hall on the ETSU campus.
Establishments in Greeneville and Walters State Community College also accepted donations for the group.
"This is not a Christmas gift for the children," said Shelton. "This is just our way of showing that teacher's do care about their students, not only in the classroom, but in their daily lives as well."
On Nov. 20, the group delivered a van full of books, school supplies, puzzles, games and educational toys to the home.
"Without donations from people like this," said Reverend Charles Hutchins, head of the development department. "We wouldn't be able to survive."
The donations were received with great appreciation and were given to the children in the day care facility at the home, said Hutchins. "I love making people happy," said Tonya Hatcher, a senior majoring in k-6 elementary education and vice president of STEA. "And I feel that we really did that today."