2008 Woodie Awards
Elf project underway
By Sarah Poulton
Rocket Assistant Ad Manager
Issue date: 12/9/05 Section: News
This Christmas, 125 underprivileged children will reap the benefits of Santa Claus sliding down their chimneys and leaving presents underneath their trees.
"Project Christmas Elf" is a program sponsored by the Salvation Army and the Lowry Center, which allows members of the local Slippery Rock community to "adopt" needy children, and provide those children with the Christmas of their dreams, according to a press release issued by Slippery Rock University on Nov. 29. The Salvation Army gathers names of these children from Butler and Lawrence counties. The Lowry Center distributes their "wish lists" to interested university departments, offices, campus organizations, individuals and community groups.
Meghan Oefinger, sophomore exercise science and psychology major, is responsible for organizing this event.
"I usually put in about four hours a week, but it's been more like 15 hours a week for the past three weeks," Oefinger said. "I feel a huge sense of accomplishment. It's awesome to know that 125 kids will have presents."
Oefinger said when people signed up for Project Christmas Elf, they could request a specific gender or age group for their child. She said the amount of $100 was asked to be spent on each child, because these may be the only presents they get this Christmas.
Oefinger said the Lowry Center's goal at the beginning of this project was to give 300 children a nice Christmas. Because of conflicts with different organizations, The Lowry Center got started a month late.
Oefinger said some of the on campus organizations that participated in Project Christmas Elf were the Athletic Training Association, The Niki Hunt Health Center, The English Department, Public Relations, S.U.M.A., many Greek organizations, faculty members, and individual students.
Gifts will be gathered for delivery to the Salvation Army from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 in the Russell Wright Alumni House.
Oefinger said another way to help out children would be to participate in the Lowry Center sponsored event, "Letters to Santa," which deals with returning letters to children who have written to Santa. She said it is up to college students to write back to these kids acting as Santa, or an elf.
"(These projects) are a great way to get into the holiday season and remember what Christmas is all about," Oefinger said.
Oefinger said students who are interested in this project can stop by the Lowry Center to pick up a directions sheet. "Santa's replies" are due back to the Lowry Center by Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. For every four letters a person writes, they will be awarded one volunteer/service hour.
Project Christmas Elf began 16 years ago to help SRU celebrate their 100th anniversary of the University's founding.
"Project Christmas Elf" is a program sponsored by the Salvation Army and the Lowry Center, which allows members of the local Slippery Rock community to "adopt" needy children, and provide those children with the Christmas of their dreams, according to a press release issued by Slippery Rock University on Nov. 29. The Salvation Army gathers names of these children from Butler and Lawrence counties. The Lowry Center distributes their "wish lists" to interested university departments, offices, campus organizations, individuals and community groups.
Meghan Oefinger, sophomore exercise science and psychology major, is responsible for organizing this event.
"I usually put in about four hours a week, but it's been more like 15 hours a week for the past three weeks," Oefinger said. "I feel a huge sense of accomplishment. It's awesome to know that 125 kids will have presents."
Oefinger said when people signed up for Project Christmas Elf, they could request a specific gender or age group for their child. She said the amount of $100 was asked to be spent on each child, because these may be the only presents they get this Christmas.
Oefinger said the Lowry Center's goal at the beginning of this project was to give 300 children a nice Christmas. Because of conflicts with different organizations, The Lowry Center got started a month late.
Oefinger said some of the on campus organizations that participated in Project Christmas Elf were the Athletic Training Association, The Niki Hunt Health Center, The English Department, Public Relations, S.U.M.A., many Greek organizations, faculty members, and individual students.
Gifts will be gathered for delivery to the Salvation Army from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 9 in the Russell Wright Alumni House.
Oefinger said another way to help out children would be to participate in the Lowry Center sponsored event, "Letters to Santa," which deals with returning letters to children who have written to Santa. She said it is up to college students to write back to these kids acting as Santa, or an elf.
"(These projects) are a great way to get into the holiday season and remember what Christmas is all about," Oefinger said.
Oefinger said students who are interested in this project can stop by the Lowry Center to pick up a directions sheet. "Santa's replies" are due back to the Lowry Center by Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. For every four letters a person writes, they will be awarded one volunteer/service hour.
Project Christmas Elf began 16 years ago to help SRU celebrate their 100th anniversary of the University's founding.
