Corky’s Cupbord only the beginning of giving at ESU
While ESU’s annual food drive “Corky’s Cupboard” came to a close last week, raising over a ton of food for area social services agencies, the giving spirit has not ended on campus.
Many organizations and departments are still finding ways to help out others during the holidays.
The Public Affairs and Marketing office, which coordinated Corky’s cupboard, has gone to work adopting a family for Christmas. For the last three years, the Office of Financial Aid has also participated with the Adopt a Family program. This year is no exception.
“Instead of giving gifts to each other, we donate the money to purchase the gifts for the family. We feel that other people need things more than we do,” said Wilma Kasnic, director of Student Financial Aid.
The Memorial Union is also collecting canned goods and personal care items for Salvation Army and SOS Women’s Shelter during their annual Late Night Event, which is held on December 15 at 9 p.m. in Webb Lecture Hall. The event usually brings several cartloads of items.
Student organizations are also getting into the giving spirit.
Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society, is hosting a book drive until December 12 for soldiers who are currently deployed.
“I think this is a great way we can support the troops during the holiday season,” Lacey Whetstone, a graduate student in history said. “A lot of the soldiers are looking for paperback novels, religious reading material, and books on computers. Textbooks are not requested at this time.”
Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority is involved in the Angel Tree program through Salvation Army in which they collect presents for children less fortunate.
“The Angel Tree is an ongoing tradition with our sorority,” said Jenise Laipple, a junior Elementary Education major and member of Alpha Sigma Alpha. “We really enjoy helping out others. Each day until we received the names, I was repeatedly being asked if we have them yet, for the girls were very excited to start shopping for our children.”
Emporia State Circle K has also been very busy during the holiday season. To date, they have spent time as bell ringers for Salvation Army, assisting with Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa at the Emporia Public Library, and spent time running games at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Christmas Party. They will also help the Kiwanis with their Holiday Light Tour on December 11.
“Everyone at Circle K finds it very important to give back to the community,” said ESU Circle K member J.D. Ponder, a junior communication major. “By helping out others, we feel that we can make a difference in the world around us.
Along with these activities, Zoiks!, Emporia State University’s improvisational comedy troupe, held their annual Sketch and Improvisation Show on December 10 to raise money to help ESU student Matt Jones defray costs of his bone marrow transplant. Concert organizers will also collect food for the SOS Women’s Shelter.
One common theme is held with many of these activities – they will never see the people that their actions are benefiting. However, this doesn’t stop ESU from giving back to the community.
“In our heart, we know how much they appreciate everything,” said Kasnic.
Last Updated July 2, 2007>