For many people, the holidays are a traditional time of cheer, gift giving and selflessness. The College of Arts and Sciences is not missing out on the holiday spirit. Since the mid-1990s, the Arts and Sciences College Council has chosen an organization to sponsor for their outreach to needy children in the area for the Angel Tree Project. The council chose Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge for sponsorship this year. “Catholic Charities considers it an honor to serve as the coordinator of so much community generosity,” said Wendy Hellinger, Catholic Charities spokeswoman. “Last year, donors through Catholic Charities brought a merry Christmas to 1,311 families-nearly 5,000 children, seniors and adults. This year, the number of families will be even greater and the needs are more comprehensive than ever.” All families that will benefit from the Angel Tree Project are currently receiving food stamps and living at or below the poverty level, Hellinger said. Catholic Charities has supplied the College of Arts and Sciences with the names, ages and gift wishes for local children. “We made individual angel ornaments with each child’s information and allowed interested students, faculty and staff to adopt an angel for the holidays.” said Rebecca Caire, College of Arts and Sciences assistant dean. Some of the gift wishes for boys range from anything to do with athletic apparel and shoes while girls generally ask for anything to do with the Bratz doll line. To take part in the Angel Tree Project, anyone can stop by the College of Arts and Sciences Student Services Office in 119 Hodges Hall and pick up an ornament. John Michael Early, president of Sigma Chi, and Kenneth Hebert president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, are two of the biggest contributors. They adopted about 10 ornaments each on behalf of their fraternities. “I wasn’t specifically looking for a charity for the fraternity, but when I saw some of the requests I thought that it would be a good thing to do.” Hebert said. “And I hope one day when these kids grow up, they’ll remember what was done for them, and maybe they’ll have the means to do it for someone else.” The college is asking that anyone donating gifts return their donations and ornaments to the office by Dec. 13 so they may be delivered to the children in time.
—-Contact Megan Williams at [email protected]