Student Volunteerism Abounds at SU

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

HOLIDAY ANGELS: Shore CAN Volunteer Center and Guerrieri University Center host an angel tree to provide holiday gifts and clothing to underprivileged children. They hope to reach 200 children from agencies including Maple Shade Home, Joseph House Village, Department of Social Services (Wicomico & Somerset County) and Life Crisis Center. Faculty, staff and students can make donations through Friday, December 14, based on information about the children (age, gender, size, etc.) available in the Guerrieri Center’s main lounge.

HOLIDAY WRAPPINGS: SU's field hockey team recently volunteered at the American Cancer Society's annual Holiday Wrappings Luncheon in Ocean City, MD, one of the society's largest yearly fund-raisers on the Delmarva Peninsula. Guest speaker was Dr. Rosemary Thomas, SU vice president for advancement and executive director of the Salisbury University Foundation, Inc.

COLLECTION FOR ANIMALS: Blackwell Library reminds the campus community that people are not the only beings who are homeless and hungry during its annual collection for homeless animals in area shelters in Wicomico and Somerset counties. The drive runs through Friday, December 14. A list of needed items, such as dog and cat food, and collection boxes are located by the library’s circulation desk.

BLESS OUR CHILDREN: The SU Dance Company held a raffle during its annual Fall Dance Showcase to benefit WBOC's "Bless Our Children" program, which provides holiday gifts for area underprivileged children.

THEATRE FOR TOTS: A monetary donation or toy was requested for admission to SU’s Sophanes Theatre Club’s annual Christmas show, Scrooged Up!, Friday-Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec.2.  Proceeds benefited Toys for Tots.

HOLIDAY WARMTH: Members of SU’s Honors Student Association are collecting coats and blankets for the Joseph House Christian Shelter. Honors students also are collecting gifts to mail to Gambia, where Peace Corps volunteer and SU alumna Ellie Adelman will distribute them to local children.

TOURNAMENT OF TREES: The Guerrieri University Center hosts its fifth annual tree-trimming event, encouraging student organizations to decorate trees to be judged. Trees adorn the interior of the Guerrieri Center, awaiting delivery to Joseph House Village.

PROMOTING GOOD CAUSES: Students in Paula Morris’ advertising and promotions classes spent most of November hosting fundraisers including food sales, raffles and sports tournaments to benefit a number of charities. Among the beneficiaries were the Joseph House Christian Shelter, March of Dimes, SU SafeRide, Wellness Community, Kids of Honor mentoring program, American Cancer Society and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

TOYS AND MORE: Members of the Pi Gamma Mu social science honor society, Bellavance Honors Program and other campus organizations helped make the holidays brighter for less fortunate children during the Salisbury Jaycees’ annual Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour. Volunteers led children through Wal-Mart to purchase gifts for friends and family with money raised by the Jaycees.

TURKEY DINNERS: ShoreCAN Volunteer Center at SU helped local families at Thanksgiving by encouraging SU faculty, staff and students to donate non-perishable items and preparing holiday baskets filled with ingredients for a traditional turkey dinner.

AMERICORPS CARES: Volunteers with ShoreCorps/PALS, the AmeriCorps chapter at SU, have kept busy in the community this season with several youth-related events. They have included holiday crafts at SU's Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, a Salisbury's Promise youth Christmas party in connection with Salisbury Urban Ministries' Kids Café, and the Eden Head Start Party at the Richard Hazel Youth Club.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS: The SU Student Government Associaton's Freshman Committee raised more than $300 to provide toys and other gifts to students in the S.T.A.R.S. Program at Pinehurst Elementary School for the holidays.

Any student organizations who would like their activities added to the list should call the Public Relations Office at 410-543-6030 or e-mail jfrhodes@salisbury.edu.