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East Campus brings Christmas to needy families
December 15, 2006
Cindy Duckett perused the assortment of toys, clothes and stuffed animals as she searched for the perfect gifts for her 4-year-old and 8-year-old daughters.
The Ducketts were among approximately 200 low-income families invited to participate in East Campus’ Holiday Workshop and Christmas party on Dec. 14. The workshop gave families the opportunity to “shop” for Christmas gifts for their family members.
“It’s really special,” Duckett said, “because parents like me who are less fortunate know their children can get at least one good present at Christmas.”
The workshop was a collaborative effort between PLU, the Pierce County Chamber and the other social-service organizations located in East Campus. The organizers solicited donations for all age groups - including parents - from the PLU community, business that are members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and the Parkland community.
At the event, parents and their children were able to choose one gift per family member. The parents shopped upstairs in a room filled with toys, games, books and clothing. Meanwhile, the children sorted through lotions, sweatshirts and picture frames to choose a present for their moms and dads.
“I think it’s sweet because the present will be from them, picked out by them” Duckett said.
Once the gifts were selected, volunteers wrapped the items up nicely for the families, complete with ribbons and candy canes. The parents then joined their children for a holiday party of punch and cookies.
For many of these families, the presents they picked out at the workshop are the only ones the family will exchange this year, said Ruth Kohler, director of the Wellness Center and an organizer of the event. The primary recipients of the workshop were the children and families connected to the Head Start and First Place for Children programs that operate out of East Campus, she said.
However, families connected to the other social-service organizations in the building were also invited. For example, a woman with three young children visited the Wellness Center last week, and Kohler asked if she knew about the Christmas Workshop.
The woman was at the lowest income level, and when she learned about the party, she started to cry, Kohler said. The woman and her husband had been fretting about how to tell their children there wasn’t enough money for Christmas presents this year. But because of the workshop, they wouldn’t have to.
“It was one of those things where you’re crying and she’s crying,” Kohler said. “If it was only for this family, (the workshop) was worth it.”
Donations poured in from local businesses and the PLU community, Kohler said. Additionally, PLU students, faculty and staff and Parkland community members donated their time to help sort the donations, wrap the gifts and provide daycare while the parents shopped.
“It’s a pretty cool way to give back to the community and be more involved in the community,” said Jonathan Grove, coordinator of the Men Against Violence project, as he helped to sort the donations by age appropriateness.
For nearly 20 years, some sort of holiday party has been hosted by the East Campus organizations. Since the building houses community outreach organizations, it’s become a tradition, Kohler said.
For the past four years, AmeriCorps volunteers operating out of the building organized the event, but the program lost its funding this year. The holiday party once again fell on the shoulders of the East Campus organizations.
Due to a lack of staff, the party was smaller than in years past, said Oney Crandall, director for the Center for Public Service. The chamber played a prominent role in gathering donations this year, she said.
“Even as small and as last minute as this year has been, it’s been a wonderful collaborative effort,” Crandall said.
The Pierce County Chamber holds its meetings on campus, and the partnership with PLU grew out of a mutual desire to do something good for needy families. In addition to the Franklin-Pierce School District Head Start preschool program and the First Place for Children daycare, Parkland Family Support and PLU’s Wellness Center, Couples and Family Therapy Center, and the Center for Public Service sponsored the workshop.
To learn more about the organizations located in East Campus, click here.
“It’s really special,” Duckett said, “because parents like me who are less fortunate know their children can get at least one good present at Christmas.”
The workshop was a collaborative effort between PLU, the Pierce County Chamber and the other social-service organizations located in East Campus. The organizers solicited donations for all age groups - including parents - from the PLU community, business that are members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber and the Parkland community.
At the event, parents and their children were able to choose one gift per family member. The parents shopped upstairs in a room filled with toys, games, books and clothing. Meanwhile, the children sorted through lotions, sweatshirts and picture frames to choose a present for their moms and dads.
“I think it’s sweet because the present will be from them, picked out by them” Duckett said.
Once the gifts were selected, volunteers wrapped the items up nicely for the families, complete with ribbons and candy canes. The parents then joined their children for a holiday party of punch and cookies.
For many of these families, the presents they picked out at the workshop are the only ones the family will exchange this year, said Ruth Kohler, director of the Wellness Center and an organizer of the event. The primary recipients of the workshop were the children and families connected to the Head Start and First Place for Children programs that operate out of East Campus, she said.
However, families connected to the other social-service organizations in the building were also invited. For example, a woman with three young children visited the Wellness Center last week, and Kohler asked if she knew about the Christmas Workshop.
The woman was at the lowest income level, and when she learned about the party, she started to cry, Kohler said. The woman and her husband had been fretting about how to tell their children there wasn’t enough money for Christmas presents this year. But because of the workshop, they wouldn’t have to.
“It was one of those things where you’re crying and she’s crying,” Kohler said. “If it was only for this family, (the workshop) was worth it.”
Donations poured in from local businesses and the PLU community, Kohler said. Additionally, PLU students, faculty and staff and Parkland community members donated their time to help sort the donations, wrap the gifts and provide daycare while the parents shopped.
“It’s a pretty cool way to give back to the community and be more involved in the community,” said Jonathan Grove, coordinator of the Men Against Violence project, as he helped to sort the donations by age appropriateness.
For nearly 20 years, some sort of holiday party has been hosted by the East Campus organizations. Since the building houses community outreach organizations, it’s become a tradition, Kohler said.
For the past four years, AmeriCorps volunteers operating out of the building organized the event, but the program lost its funding this year. The holiday party once again fell on the shoulders of the East Campus organizations.
Due to a lack of staff, the party was smaller than in years past, said Oney Crandall, director for the Center for Public Service. The chamber played a prominent role in gathering donations this year, she said.
“Even as small and as last minute as this year has been, it’s been a wonderful collaborative effort,” Crandall said.
The Pierce County Chamber holds its meetings on campus, and the partnership with PLU grew out of a mutual desire to do something good for needy families. In addition to the Franklin-Pierce School District Head Start preschool program and the First Place for Children daycare, Parkland Family Support and PLU’s Wellness Center, Couples and Family Therapy Center, and the Center for Public Service sponsored the workshop.
To learn more about the organizations located in East Campus, click here.