“We always say that a person can give three things: their time, their talent and their treasure. Time is taking time out of their day to go and volunteer, talent is their abilities and their treasure is their means that they can donate,” Ferris coordinator of Career and Volunteer centers Michele Albright said.
With the holidays rapidly approaching, students may be busy studying for finals and attending holiday parties. If time and talent is not something you can give up, there are still many ways to donate treasure.
“A lot of organizations are looking for donations around this time,” Albright said. “There’s local community clothing drives— Salvation Army is a huge one right now—and is always looking for donations of gently used clothing. The domestic violence shelter is looking for donation of items. Angels in Action is hosting a blanket tie drive. Students may make their own tie blankets and drop them off to the CLACS office.”
December is one of the highest needs month per year. According to the United States Census, 18.9 percent of Mecosta County individuals are below poverty level. Organizations like Project Starburst, who provide food and other items for families in need of assistance, are looking for food donations.
“We don’t notice because we’re a campus community and it’s easy to get sucked into campus. We need to realize what is going on around us in our community,” Albright said.
Students can still donate with a limited budget. A bag of ten-dollar groceries or a pile of old clothes can make a huge difference in someone’s life.
For additional ways to give back during the holiday season, contact CLACS@nullferris.edu.
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