Holiday Season Is Time to Think of Others for Eberly College of Science

In November, after learning of a mother and her two children who lost everything in a house fire, some members of the Dean's office staff decided to collect clothing, toys, and gift cards to help make this tragic event a little easier to bear. The Alumni Relations and Development office staff chose to sponsor a family through Interfaith Mission in lieu of giving gifts to each other. In addition to these focused efforts, staff members also collected items to fill 53 Jared Boxes—small, easy-to-carry boxes filled with toys, crayons, coloring books, games, and other small items intended to help chronically ill children pass the time in doctor's offices and hospitals while receiving lengthy medical treatments such as chemotherapy or kidney dialysis.

Staff in the Associate Dean's office added a new twist to an annual door-decorating contest by adorning their door with hats, scarves, and mittens to be donated to the Women's Resource Center.

The Department of Biology has once again "adopted" two families from the Centre County Children and Youth Services. The department collected some basic necessities and some "wish-list" extras. To this they are adding a complete holiday meal for each family to make the holiday more enjoyable.

The Department of Chemistry has elected to help two families, identified by local churches and schools, to celebrate the holiday season. They made a list of things the families needed or wanted. Faculty and staff purchased and donated items from the list, and volunteers will wrap and deliver the gifts. The department also is continuing a tradition of sponsoring a penny-collection competition between faculty, staff, and students, the proceeds of which will be donated to the Easter Seals Society.

In keeping with an annual tradition of charitable efforts, the Department of Physics has chosen to help a family with three young children where both parents have recently lost their jobs, forcing them to move. The department has collected gift certificates for supermarkets, department stores, restaurants, gas stations, and telephone services—in addition to cash donations—and will deliver them to the family in time to help with holiday preparations.

These and other projects help members of the Eberly College of Science remember the many reasons they have to celebrate this holiday season.

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