2008 Woodie Awards
Season provides chances to volunteer, give
Joey Flis
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Culture
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During this holiday season, UTC students and faculty look for opportunities to help those less fortunate than themselves.
Located in the lobby of the UC, a typical looking Christmas tree stands decorated with several colorful ornaments. This is no typical tree however, and the ornaments hold a special meaning aside from their decorative purpose.
This tree is an Angel Tree, and each ornament is a symbol of the kindness of UTC students and faculty this holiday season in donating gifts to underprivileged children.
The Student Alumni Council is sponsoring the Angel Tree program, along with the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, which provides the names of the children in need, according to Patrick Miles, assistant director of alumni affairs and member of SAC.
Laura Davies, a Hixson, Tenn., senior and SAC representative for the Angel Tree program, said the SAC has been sponsoring the Angel Tree for the past few years and has gotten a very good response.
Davies also said the donations have gone so well that almost all the kids from the list of 100 have been sponsored. "It's a good way to kick off the holiday season," she said.
Davies said the process of setting up a donation to a child is simple. The SAC has had tables set up next to the tree in the UC for the past few weeks for people to sign up, and people can also go to the SAC office at the Patten House to register, according to Davies.
According to Miles, the last day to register was Nov. 28, and those who have registered must turn in their gifts by Dec. 5.
He said the reason for these deadlines is if someone signs up and does not provide a gift by the deadline, the child's name can be sent back to the Tennessee Department of Children's Services and go back into the pool of children eligible for sponsorship off campus before Christmas.
Those not already signed up through UTC who wish to sponsor a child can go through the children's services office to register, he said.
The amount typically spent on a child through UTC is $20 because of the budget of most college students, according to Davies.
Jennifer Danner, a Ducktown, Tenn., senior, said she supports the Angel Tree program and would encourage people to sponsor a child.
"Think of your most favorite Christmas gift as a child, the one that brought you that certain feeling of goodness and contentment with the world, and share that experience with a child who may never have that chance without the generosity of someone like you," she said.
