Third-year students Vicky Papuga and Krysta Sutton load a box full of gifts for the Adopt-a-Family program onto a truck bound for the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society.
Shopping for a needy family was “a lot of fun,” says third-year English and psychology student Krysta Sutton. She and her friend Vicky Papuga responded to a call to join the campus Adopt-a-Family campaign, signing on to help a struggling family through the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Foundation.
“We wanted to do something for the community,” Sutton says. “We had a lot of fun buying the stuff.”
Boxes of clothes, toys, housewares and food filled a truck collecting contributions from across campus for the charity drive, Tuesday outside the Welcome Centre.
The holiday program is an annual tradition, says coordinator Mary Anne Beaudoin of the public affairs office. In total, University departments and individuals collected $18,415 to benefit 37 local families.
“We know there is a lot of needy people hoping for a merry Christmas,” says Beaudoin. “Giving to the less fortunate is an important part of enjoying the holidays, and it is nice to see different departments and offices come together to make a difference.”