Santa’s Gift Bag
2010 Report
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.
2010 was a tremendous SUCCESS!!!!
Gifts were provided for 177 children, ranging in age from newborn -18. These 177 children (19 more than last year) were from 69 families (1 more than 2009). 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 89 Females and 88 Males.
The age breakdown of the gift recipients was:
Ages: 0-4: 39 gift recipients
5-9: 59 gift recipients
10-13: 46 gift recipients
14-18: 33 gift recipients
None of this would have been possible without our wonderful SPONSORS
and generous COMMUNITY SUPPORT!
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 (Cedarcrest, Pinecrest and Maple) were able to sponsor 10 children.
1 UNV 1100 class sponsored children.
11 student organizations sponsored one or more children.
16 individual students sponsored a total of 19 children.
1 residence hall floor was a sponsor.
3 sports teams were sponsors (Sprint Football; Field Hockey and Softball)
We estimate that a minimum of 500 MU students participated this year.
MU FACULTY/STAFF:
39 individual faculty and staff helped with many taking 2 or more kids.
4 Departments helped by sponsoring 21 children.
We estimate that over 60 faculty and staff participated.
COMMUNITY:
Members of the Mansfield Chapter of Kiwanis and employees of Northwest Savings Bank sponsored a total of 7 children.
In addition, the Mansfield Chapter of Kiwanis helped us by providing people and vehicles to transport gifts to the fire hall.
For the fifth year in a row, The Laurel Doll Club of Pennsylvania made a monetary donation and a donation of toys/dolls. The Cadette Girl Scouts Troop 40580 collected pajamas for several of our children.
We received several generous monetary donations from the following members of the community:
First Baptist Church of Mansfield (Deacons’ Benevolence Fund), Holy Child Catholic Church (Charity Fund), Wendy’s and Strohecker Vision Center. Pudgie’s Pizza and Subs in Mansfield provided gift certificates to over 15 % of our children.
We also received monetary donations from members of the Mansfield University Community including:
North Hall Employees (Thanks to Jamey Harris for coordinating this!), Terry Day, Jazzman's and Retan Cart Employees and AFSCME PA Local 2363.
Finally, MAEOP (Mansfield Association of Educational Office Professionals) not only sponsored children but had a gift wrap drive which yielded lots of bows, wrapping paper, tissue paper, tape, tags—everything our families needed to wrap their gifts.
A Special Thanks goes out to:
-Jamey Hoose and Pump-n-Pantry Employees who provided food boxes for each family.
-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 purchase hats and mittens/gloves for each child. Thanks to Nicole Smith Schea and Irene Morgan for coordinating this effort!
-The Mansfield Volunteer Fire Association who allow us to use the fire hall for several days and whose members help sort, distribute and deliver gifts to some of the families. Special thanks to Arlene Welch!
-Joe and Maryann Maresco for all the support they provide year after year.
-and last, 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.
We want to thank every single person who helped whether big or small!
We could not do it without each and every one of you!!!
Thanks again for making Santa’s Gift Bag 2010 such a success!
In gratitude,
Rev. Deborah Casey and Courtney Hull,
Santa’s Gift Bag Coordinators and Campus Ministers at Mansfield University
Mansfield University Home Page
EVERYONE WELCOME! Stop by for prayer, meditation, some quiet time, whatever you need to refresh yourself!