Mike Borek (left), resident director of Salisbury Hall, and Terrance Miller,
graduate assistant for Multicultural Affairs, pose in front of the Giving Tree in Charlie's.

November, 2004—In the spirit of the holiday season, Assumption College is once again facilitating several service projects to reach out to the needy.

The Reach Out Center (ROC) is overseeing three holiday projects this season. Operation Mexico, formerly the “Shoebox Project”, calls for donations of small, unwrapped toys (under $10 in value) to go to children in need in Mexico. No food items or “war” toys will be accepted. The deadline to drop off these toys in the Reach Out Center is November 29, 2004.

The Pennies for the Homeless project will collect spare change for a homeless shelter, to be determined by Reach Out Center service directors at a later date. Last year, Assumption collected $503.10 worth of change, which was donated to Jeremiah’s Inn, a shelter and substance abuse recovery program for homeless men in Worcester. Change will be collected in the Reach Out Center. The deadline to contribute change is December 10, 2004.

Coats for Kids, which was a resounding success last year, hopes to achieve even better results in the 2004 holiday season. In 2003, Assumption collected 76 brand-new coats, hats, and mittens for needy children in the Worcester Public Schools. Those interested in contributing to this may pick up a child’s name and size in the Reach Out Center. Brand-new items must be purchased. Coats are due back to the ROC on December 7, 2004.

During the annual "Christmas in Charlie's" celebration, members of the Assumption community are invited to participate in a Cards for the Troops project. On Wednesday, December 8, 2004, everyone is welcome to stop by and make a card that will be mailed to soldiers in Iraq. This event will take place in Charlie's from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Department of Public Safety will hold its sixth annual Tickets for Tots program on Wednesday December 8, 2004, in the Laska Gymnasium lobby from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Public Safety officers will take an Assumption College parking ticket in exchange for a toy to be donated to Toys-for-Tots (Marines) and the Telegram & Gazette Santa. The unwrapped, non-violent toy must have a minimum value of $5.00, and batteries must be provided if needed. Parking tickets are not needed to donate a toy. The Tickets for Tots event will also feature refreshments, photos with Santa Claus for $1.00 apiece, and a raffle ($1.00/ticket) for a free 2005-2006 parking sticker. Participants must bring their parking ticket(s) with them in order for the citation(s) to be considered paid. The citation will still count towards the total per year, and only two tickets per person can be exchanged. Only tickets with the following violations will be accepted: No Permit/Unauthorized Permit, Fire Lane/Fire Hydrant, Special Zone/Time Zone, Landscape Violation, No Parking Area, and Using Two Parking Spaces.

The Student Activities office is sponsoring a Giving Tree once again, designed to bring joy to children who have been assisted by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC). Starting November 15, the tree will be adorned with ornaments bearing a child’s first name and age. Interested members of the community will be asked to return the ornament with a wrapped gift, under $30 in value, for their child. Gifts must be returned by December 3, 2004.

Residential Life is organizing a Food Drive to benefit the Willis Center in Worcester. Resident students are encouraged to donate any canned, nonperishable food items from their dorm rooms and apartments. Contact Kelly Isom at x7505 for more information.

“There are a wide range of opportunities for everyone to get involved this holiday season,” says Debbie Lynch, director of the Reach Out Center. “The variety of projects offered will allow people to respond in any way they can. It can be as simple as donating a handful of change.”

For more information about any of these holiday projects, please contact the Reach Out Center at (508) 767-7142.