112 Pinecrest Manor
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"United Campus Ministry at Mansfield University"
Courtney Hull, Campus Minister
(570) 662-4431
chull@mansfield.edu
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Every year as the holidays approach, Mansfield University, under the direction of the United Campus Ministry office, facilitates a program called Santa's Gift Bag.Through this program we offer assistance to local families who need help providing Christmas gifts for their child (or children). After receiving a letter from our office, these families provide us with information to pass on to sponsors
who shop for presents for the children. With the assistance of community members and our local Mansfield Fire Department, the gifts are packed and ready for pick-up or delivery several days before Christmas.
Gifts were provided for 129 children, ranging in age from newborn -18. These 129 children were from 58 families. All of the children are students at a Mansfield school (Mansfield High, Miller Elementary, New Covenant Academy), a member of an area day care center or a sibling of one of the above.
Gifts were provided for 66 Females and 63 Males.
The age breakdown of the gift recipients was:
Ages: 0-4: 30gift recipients
5-9: 48 gift recipients
10-13: 31 gift recipients
14-18: 20 gift recipients
Our sponsors came from both the university and the community. Students, faculty, staff, community members and businesses were all sponsors.
Below is a breakdown of those who helped sponsor a child, children, family or families this year.
MU STUDENTS:
Residence Halls (Laurel and Maple) were able to sponsor children and Oak held a toy drive.
1 First Year Seminar class sponsored children.
9 student organizations sponsored one or more children.
11 individual students sponsored children.
2 sports teams were sponsors.
We estimate that a minimum of 300 MU students participated this year.
MU FACULTY/STAFF:
41 individual faculty and staff helped with many taking 2 or more kids.
4 Departments helped by sponsoring 12 children.
We estimate that over 70 faculty and staff participated.
COMMUNITY:
Members of the Mansfield Chapter of Kiwanis sponsored children and helped us by providing people and vehicles to transport gifts to the fire hall.
For the seventh year in a row, The Laurel Doll Club of Pennsylvania made a monetary donation and a donation of toys/dolls.
Several businesses (Gregory's Restaurant, PizzaHut and Pudgie's Pizza) donated gift certificates which were given to our families.
Other community members including Indigo Wireless in Wellsboro, Pump and Pantry, Citizens and Northern Bank, Northwest Savings Bank and Holy Child Catholic Church supported us by sponsoring children and having toy drives.
We received generous monetary donations from Wal-Mart, Beiter's Home Center, Cynthia Keller, Terry Day, Janeen Sheehe, Linda Kichline, North Hall Employees (Thanks to Jamey Harris for organizing that effort!), PSECU and MU Men's and Women's Basketball Game attendees (Thanks to Steve McCloskey for coordinating that!)
A Special Thanks goes out to:
-Colleen Devine and the MU Post Office for coordinating a wrapping paper and gift supplies drive.
-The Community Churches in Mansfield who make and fill a stocking for each child. Thanks to Carol Wooley for coordinating this effort!
-Partners in Progress who provide hats and gloves for each child. Thanks to Roxanne Heaney-Rumsey and Irene Morgan for coordinating this effort!
-The Mansfield Volunteer Fire Association who allow us to use the fire hall for several days. Special thanks to Deb Freeman, Arlene Welch and our delivery crew!
-Joe and Maryann Maresco for all thesupport they provide year after year.
-andl ast, but certainly not least, thanks to Stephanie Kraft, our amazing and wonderful student worker. Without her help, SGB would not have come together so smoothly or been so organized.
In gratitude,
Courtney Hull
Santa's Gift Bag Coordinator and Campus Minister at Mansfield University
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