As everyone is gearing up for the holiday season and buying gifts for loved ones, Chico State student-athletes have one last family to shop for.
The Chico State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is sponsoring a family through the University’s Needy Children Program coordinated by the Staff Council, a service project committee.
The event was intended to make the Christmas season a magical time by selecting less fortunate Butte County families in need.
“Various groups on campus adopt a family that we give presents to,” said Chico State Assistant Athletic Director Mitch Cox. “It’s a nice thing to help out some folks that wouldn’t have a pleasant holiday season.”
The University’s Needy Children Program was established in 1990 and the campus-wide event has participants from several departments, organizations as well as individuals, all committed to helping local children, according to the Staff Council Web site.
They estimate $100 to $150 per child is needed to ensure a fulfilled Christmas.
Last year more than 176 children in 81 families received gifts as a result of the program, according to a Chico State press release.
This year, the family adopted by the SAAC consists of a single mother and her three daughters ages 3, 4 and 5, said SAAC President Rebecca Johnson, who thinks it best not to reveal the names of the family.
In the past, the SAAC has usually generated enough money to support two or three children for this program, Cox said.
This is just one of the functions SAAC participates in since one of the duties for the committee is to reach out and better the community. The 29 student-athletes who make up the SAAC also organize and take part in community service events, according to the committee’s Web page.
“The athletes are collecting money from all their teammates and then they will go shopping for the girls,” Cox said. “They were given a list of their needs, mainly consisting of clothes but there will be some fun stuff in there too.”
After their shopping, the SAAC held a meeting for the members to help wrap all the presents the volunteering athletes bought.
Johnson thinks the SAAC is a good way for the athletes to become involved in the community, she said.
“It’s a great program, an easy way to give back to the community,” Johnson said. “We really change these kids’ lives even if it is just for a day. It gives them something to smile about and they don’t get that very often.”
T.J. Holmes can be reached
tjholmes@theorion.com
Be the first to comment on this article!