During the holiday season, organizations on campus take part in helping out children and families in Champaign county. This year, some new efforts are being made to raise money for children and to connect campus resources with community-wide campaigns. Other organizations are looking to gain more support and expand on successful campaigns from last holiday season.

Toys for Tots

Sigma Nu Fraternity also makes efforts each year to bring community charity campaigns to campus. Sigma Nu is the only Greek house participating in Toys for Tots at the University. Last year, Sigma Nu was the largest drop off point for toys going toward children in Champaign County.

“Last year, we helped over 2,500 children in this area, and our goal this year is to raise over $20,000,” Jim Bruce, recruit-chair elect, pledge president and freshman in LAS, said.

On Thursday, Dec. 2, Sigma Nu hosted a desert dinner to culminate the annual Toys for Tots Drive. People interested in donating can still bring toys over to the house up until the end of finals week, Bruce said.

The chapter took time to decorate the house and invite sororities by caroling before the event. Caroling brought about 10 of the sororities to the event, Bruce said.

The house also saw faculty involvement at this event. The night consisted of live caroling by the chapter members, decorating cookies and collecting of donations. Refreshment such as donuts and coffee were provided by Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.

“Three full-sized Toys for Tots bins were filled by the end of the night. We also received gift cards from Meijer and Walmart, which we will use to buy gifts for the children in Champaign,” Bruce said.

The house is still working toward meeting its goal of increasing money and gifts, which will all go directly back to local families.

Tree of Hope Campaign

For the first time this year, students and faculty can experience a community-wide campaign in the heart of campus. The Developmental Services Center, DSC, has expanded its Tree of Hope Campaign to the campus community. The campaign started on Dec. 1 with a kick-off event, which included a lighting of the tree, stories from families that will benefit from the charity and a raffle. The campaign will run through Thursday. The tree will be on the Quad along with activities provided by Alpha Epsilon Pi, Delta Sigma Pi and Phi Delta Theta.

Students Consulting for Non-Profit Organizations (SCNO), a new RSO, helped make this possible.

“The main goal of the campus campaign is to raise awareness for what DSC provides for people in the community,” Jordy McNamara, co-founder and consultant for SCNO, philanthropy chair for Alpha Epsilon Pi and sophomore in Business, said.

In past years, DSC was not able to connect with students in order to bring the campaign to the University. Working with SCNO made this connection possible.

“Non-profits have been hit harder than most industries because governments haven’t been able to provide the support that they are supposed to,” McNamara said. “Campaigns like these help to raise awareness and tap into the resources that the university has.”

This year, the campaign also implemented a texting program that allows donors to help the campaign with ease. People wanting to donate can text to text DSC to 20222 to donate $5 and light up a bulb on the tree. This new texting option has been a success, McNamara said.

The SCNO is concentrating on growing and also gaining more support for following years.

“We want this to become the big event of the holidays and expand our presence next year on campus,

and into the future,” McNamara said.

Crisis Nursery

On Wednesday, Dec. 1, members from the American Advertising Federation, AAF Community Outreach, went to Champaign’s Crisis Nursery to decorate a Christmas tree for the children.

This is an annual charity event for AAF. The tree is located on the children’s playground and stands about 25 feet, Kristen Klootwyk, member of AAF and senior in Media, said.

AAF purchased ornaments and lights to put on the tree, Klootwyk said.

The Crisis Nursery is a free daycare which provides a safe place for parents to bring their children. The nursery serves the community to prevent child abuse and neglect and offers support for families in crisis, Klootwyk said.

Each year the organization decorates the tree in order to bring the spirit of Christmas to children who are in need.

“Going to the Crisis Nursery during the holiday season really makes me want to reach out to those in need even more,” Klootwyk said.