Campus Community Participates in Season of Giving
December 18, 2018
The season of giving has been an enormous success at Hudson Valley Community College. This year, the students, faculty and staff of Hudson Valley Community College went above and beyond in their efforts to make the holiday season a safe, warm and happy time for those in need.
Taking the true spirit of the “season of giving” to heart, the campus community came together to donate, fundraise, volunteer and brighten the lives of children, families, and those living in poverty, struggling with illness, or finding themselves without a home this holiday season. Below are some of the highlights of these generous efforts.
Highlights of Giving
Campus-Wide 12 Days of Giving to Benefit Joseph’s House and Shelter Doubles Goal
This year, the entire Hudson Valley campus came together to participate in 12 Days of Giving, an effort to collect at least 1,200 new warm clothing and personal care products for the men and women at Joseph’s House and Shelter in Troy, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing services to end homelessness. The endeavor was wildly successful; between Nov. 28 and Dec. 13, the college community collected more than 2,500 items, more than double the original goal.
One staff member who contributed was Kelly DiDomenick, a technical services laboratory assistant in the college’s Science Center who organized a team of colleagues to give in memory of her brother, Kyle, who passed away last year.
Animal Outreach Club Collects Warm Blankets for Homeless People and their Animals
The Animal Outreach Club collected used blankets, scarves and warm clothing to donate through Hugs USA, a non-profit dedicated to collecting and distributing hats, umbrellas, underwear, gloves, scarves, and socks for homeless people and their animals living on the streets across the United States.
Athletic Teams Volunteer at Food Bank, Raise Funds for Ronald McDonald House
The Student-Athletes Leading Together (S.A.L.T.) program raised money through a dodgeball tournament on Nov. 12 and used the funds to adopt a family through the Ronald McDonald House Charities, providing them with a variety of gifts for the children. Meanwhile, the Vikings cross country team volunteered at the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York on Dec. 5.
Respiratory Care Students Visit Kids, Distribute Presents
Students and faculty from the college’s Respiratory Care department visit with and distribute presents to children who are residents at Pathways Rehabilitation in Niskayuna.
For the past six years, Respiratory Care students have distributed presents to the children who are residents at Pathways Rehabilitation in Niskayuna. Students and faculty visited with these young people for a couple of hours on Friday, Dec. 14. The students have taken care of the residents, many of whom are on long term mechanical ventilation, on their clinical rotations this fall.
Office of Community and Professional Education Collects Donations for Parents and Children in Need
The Office of Community and Professional Education collected funds and other items from a holiday wish list provided by Northern Rivers Northeast Parent/Parsons. The office received about $200 in gift cards, including a $100 gift card from one faculty member, and about 50 items from the wish list from staff and faculty across the campus.
HonorScholars Pack “Goodnight Bags” for Domestic Violence Shelter
Liberal Arts HonorScholar students and Liberal Arts Department Chairperson Heather Chase pose with “goodnight bags” they delivered to children at the Equinox Domestic Violence Shelter.
Students in the college’s Liberal Arts and Sciences HonorScholar program helped package and deliver dozens of special “goodnight bags” to children at the Equinox Domestic Violence Shelter. They collected blankets, flashlights, sketch pads, colored pencils, crayons and stuffed animals, and delivered the bags to Equinox on Monday, Dec. 17. Albany County’s only shelter for survivors of domestic violence, Equinox is a safe haven and these special “goodnight bags” make a child's stay as homey as possible.
Human Services Club Collects Warm Clothes for Kids
The Human Services Club collected mittens, gloves and hats to donate to the families of the Viking Child Care Center this year. The club has been active in holiday giving for many years and previously were involved in adopting several families for the holidays.
Dental Hygiene Department Sells Toothbrushes, Donates Proceeds to Joseph’s House
The college’s Dental Hygiene department sold toothbrush kits for $2 each this fall, and through those efforts was able to raise $390 toward supplies for Joseph’s House and Shelter.
Teacher Prep Department Donates Floral Arrangements to Van Rensselaer Manor Residents
Students from the Teacher Preparation Department pose with residents of the Van Rensselaer Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and the floral arrangements they delivered to them.
Teacher Preparation Department Chair Toni Howard and faculty member Christine Saxe, along with students Hunter Otty and Alyssa Drabik, spent Saturday, Dec. 8 making floral arrangements for the residents of the Van Rensselaer Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Flowers were donated by Trader Joe’s and Seagroatt’s Florists. About 20 centerpieces were made, and leftover flowers were given to the staff at the center.
Campus Community Service Club Donates Clothes to Women’s Emergency Shelter
Members of community service club Sisters Incynch, along with club advisor Tamu Chambers, sort items to donate to Mercy House as part of their annual clothing drive.
Members of Sisters Incynch, a community service club, operate Katrina’s Closest on campus to assist students needing professional attire for interviews and other occasions. In late November, they held their annual clothing drive to benefit Mercy House, an emergency shelter for women operated by Catholic Charities Housing in Albany, and donated career clothing, sweaters, coats and boots to those in need.