12/20/10 This holiday season, 53 children in need will be spared a Christmas with no presents. They will have the Ancilla College community to thank for that.
For the fourth straight year, Ancilla College held its annual “angel tree” collection. This year the focus was a toy collection for children of low-income students at the Donaldson-based campus.
“I just think it’s important to help our own students and give back to them,” said Athletic Secretary Dianna Cooper, who has coordinated the collection since it began four years ago and was assisted this year by fellow Ancilla employee Tai Duncan. “Especially in these times, the students are trying to go to school and some don’t have jobs due to the hardships of the economy. It keeps in line with the mission of the College – serving the underserved.”
The 53 children – spanning 23 different families – were able to list three wishes for Christmas. Those wishes were put on the back of a card with their name and hung on the angel tree in the College’s front lobby.
Between Dec. 8 and Dec. 17, those looking to donate were able to select a child and grant one of their toy “wishes”.
All of the children selected for the angel tree had their wishes granted this year, leading Cooper to deem this year’s collection a success.
“I think it was very successful,” said Cooper. “The parents are very grateful. We got a letter from one of the moms of five kids, and it was such a sweet letter that she wrote.
“The greatest joy of all is giving.”
Ancilla College is a Catholic, two-year, co-educational, liberal arts college in Donaldson, Indiana sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ.
Photo: (Front Row, L to R) Mollie Baker, Eric Ivacic, and Greg Neeley. (Back Row, L to R) Ancilla College President Dr. Ron May, Dianna Cooper, Nelson Lopez-Diaz, Ray Girres, and Todd Zeltwanger.
