CITRUS COLLEGE GIVES BACK DURING THE HOLIDAYS
Faculty and staff supported students in a variety of ways during the recent holiday season. Whether it was by adopting a family, donating food items or participating in a Citrus College Foundation initiative, the college community united to provide an extra helping hand to its student population. "Giving back" included providing holiday gifts to the children of students in the Cooperative Agencies Resource for Education (CARE) and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKs) programs.
According to Sara Gonzalez-Tapia, director, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS)/CARE and CalWORKs, 75 children were "adopted" as part of the 2016 Adopt an Angel event. Faculty and staff purchased and wrapped items from the children's wish lists, as well as books to promote literacy. Santa Claus presented the children with their gifts during a visit on December 1.
"It was a joyful event and the students and children were extremely grateful," Gonzalez-Tapia said. "The children were happy to prepare thank you cards that were sent to all of the adopters."
Faculty and staff also donated over 750 food and beverage items at the annual Superintendent/President's Holiday Social.
"The majority of our homeless students have said that some of their biggest needs are food, drinking water and toiletries," said Dr. Maryann Tolano-Leveque, dean of students. "The donations made during the holiday social helped boost the college's food pantry."
Student veterans also benefited from the college community's willingness to give. The Citrus College Foundation invited faculty, staff and donors to enter their names for a "Beary Special Drawing" to win one of three oversized stuffed bears. To enter, participants purchased $25 gift cards for current student veterans. More than 50 gift cards were collected and distributed for the holiday season.
"As always, the college community's enthusiastic response to the requests for donations and support is inspirational," said the college superintendent/president. "The generosity exhibited by Citrus College's faculty and staff during the holiday season sends our student body the message that each of us is committed to their success.
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2017 edition of the Citrus View.