University Community Rallies for Gift Drive
Students and faculty and staff members at The University of Scranton donated hundreds of items as part of this year’s Gifts for Kids program, which distributes gifts to pre-registered families in need. The program is organized by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice in partnership with Friends of the Poor, the Catherine McAuley Center and Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton. Helping organize the gifts, from left, are University of Scranton students Gianna Familetti, of Dalton; Jordyn Walker, of Harford; Jamile Durante, of Ransom Township; and Bryan Dominguez, of Scranton.The spirit of giving is alive and well at The University of Scranton, where, for the past month, students and faculty and staff members participated in an initiative that provides holiday gifts to families in need.
This year’s Gifts for Kids program — organized in partnership by the University’s Center for Service and Social Justice (CSSJ), Friends of the Poor, the Catherine McAuley Center and Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton — yielded hundreds of gifts generously donated by members of the University community. Organizers requested a focus on teens, noting that infants typically receive ample donations but need less. In response, a record number of teen gifts were collected.
“We’ve seen a lot of community need this year,” said Ellen Judge, CSSJ outreach program coordinator. “We’re glad that people were able to be generous and donate so that we could participate in this important program every year on our campus.”
Collected items will be delivered to the Byron Recreation Complex, where volunteers will sort and prepare them for distribution on Tuesday, Dec. 16, and Wednesday, Dec. 17. Gifts will be distributed to families who pre-registered for assistance.
For additional coverage, please see this story from Fox 56.
