CSU, Chico News

The Staff Council at California State University, Chico is in their 20th year of sponsoring the Needy Children’s Gift Program, and it’s been a good year, indeed. One hundred eighty-two children from 81 families will receive gifts this year through the generosity of departments and offices within the University.

Social workers from various agencies are picking up the gifts today at the University Farm for the families they recommended. Shauna Quinn, director of the Campus Alcohol and Drug Education Center, was a social worker for Child Protective Services when the program began. “I think this is the best day of the year for many of the social workers. They get to deliver gifts and share in a family’s excitement,” said Quinn.

In addition to gifts for all of the children of the family, the families receive a certificate for food. Money for the food certificates is collected through a separate fundraiser early in the fall. Departments and offices are assigned their families, and then individuals in the offices buy gifts for each child, beginning with necessities such as clothing and warm coats.

The program started in 1985 with only 17 families and has grown through the years. It, along with campus blood drives, is one of the largest projects Staff Council sponsors. “The primary focus of Staff Council projects is that they benefit staff, then the University community and then the larger community,” said Terry Battle, chair of Staff Council. “It is wonderful that so many people in the University have helped it grow and that so many families can benefit.”

Staff Council begins working on plans for the program in October, contacting agencies and social workers, who select the families and then help families fill out wish lists, which are then handed out to participating divisions in the University. Social workers choose families on the basis of need. Families are recipients in the program only once.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, December 8th, 2005 at 8:30 am and is filed under 2005 Fall.