Holidays programs help others in simple ways
Chloe Johnson
Issue date: 11/25/09 Last update: 11/25/09 at 5:51 AM PST
Section: Features
The holidays are approaching, and with them, many opportunities to help other Laney students and people in the larger community. One long-standing program that is coming to Laney this holiday season is the Adopt-a-Family program, which is organized by CARE, a supplemental program with EOPS. CARE also recently organized the Thanksgiving Basket program, with great success.
The Thanksgiving Basket and Adopt-a-Family programs are an 18-year tradition, originally organized by program coordinator Angelina Gandara. Every holiday season, students, Laney faculty and staff, and Oakland businesses, clubs, and churches participate to help students who are single parents on welfare and struggling to support their children while pursuing their education.
Students who are involved with the CARE program are eligible to sign up to receive holiday aid for themselves and their children. CARE Program Specialist Mildred Lewis said that children often request toys, clothes or winter coats and that the requests are “usually modest.”
The ASLC has a long-standing tradition of supporting the Adopt-a-Family program, and has participated since the program’s beginning. Some other supporters of the program may seem surprising: The East Bay Dragons Motorcycle Club has been a generous donor for the past 12 years.
The program also helps eligible students with their holiday meals. However, Lewis encourages donors to send cash or gift cards rather than food items. “We have a multicultural student body, and not every student wants turkey.” said Lewis “ Their side dish may be bok choy rather than Brussels sprouts or green beans.”
Another upcoming event is the annual holiday blood drive. The blood drive was organized by Laney Political Science Professor Don Arnold, who has participated in the event for the past several years, both as an organizer and a donor. It will be held on the third floor of the Student Center from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
The blood donated will go to the American Red Cross, and will help children and adults in need throughout the Bay Area. Donors will not only be giving back to their community, they will also get the chance to win prizes such as iPods and DVD players. Professor Arnold also gives his students extra credit for participating in the event because “it’s the right thing to do.”
While most people can healthily give blood, a few people should not, including those who have recent tattoos and piercings, have recently traveled, have low iron or are underweight.
Donors should eat before giving blood, and should drink plenty of liquids throughout the day. Arnold recommends that participants check with a doctor or nurse before donating blood.
Happy Holidays!
The Thanksgiving Basket and Adopt-a-Family programs are an 18-year tradition, originally organized by program coordinator Angelina Gandara. Every holiday season, students, Laney faculty and staff, and Oakland businesses, clubs, and churches participate to help students who are single parents on welfare and struggling to support their children while pursuing their education.
Students who are involved with the CARE program are eligible to sign up to receive holiday aid for themselves and their children. CARE Program Specialist Mildred Lewis said that children often request toys, clothes or winter coats and that the requests are “usually modest.”
The ASLC has a long-standing tradition of supporting the Adopt-a-Family program, and has participated since the program’s beginning. Some other supporters of the program may seem surprising: The East Bay Dragons Motorcycle Club has been a generous donor for the past 12 years.
The program also helps eligible students with their holiday meals. However, Lewis encourages donors to send cash or gift cards rather than food items. “We have a multicultural student body, and not every student wants turkey.” said Lewis “ Their side dish may be bok choy rather than Brussels sprouts or green beans.”
Another upcoming event is the annual holiday blood drive. The blood drive was organized by Laney Political Science Professor Don Arnold, who has participated in the event for the past several years, both as an organizer and a donor. It will be held on the third floor of the Student Center from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
The blood donated will go to the American Red Cross, and will help children and adults in need throughout the Bay Area. Donors will not only be giving back to their community, they will also get the chance to win prizes such as iPods and DVD players. Professor Arnold also gives his students extra credit for participating in the event because “it’s the right thing to do.”
While most people can healthily give blood, a few people should not, including those who have recent tattoos and piercings, have recently traveled, have low iron or are underweight.
Donors should eat before giving blood, and should drink plenty of liquids throughout the day. Arnold recommends that participants check with a doctor or nurse before donating blood.
Happy Holidays!
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