In College, I used to head up a mini collection among my classmates involved in student media during the holidays. I love the entire concept and idea behind Toys for Tots, and I’d collect toys or money to buy toys, usually depositing two large bags of goodies for kids in need by mid-December.

Here at Ivy Tech Northeast, there are plenty of similar holiday giving collections going on. Regardless of your charity of choice, there’s a way to help someone in need.

Tess Brown is helping raise money as part of a project for her business class through the sale of Water for Guatemala bracelets.

• The College has adopted a family through the Allen County Christmas Bureau. The family’s gift wishes are available for pick up in HM2102, SL122, and CC1210 (everything from toys to clothing to bathroom necessities). The deadline is Dec. 1.
• Odessa Aytch, an adjunct faculty member, is collecting food for Emmanuel Apostolic Church, with the hopes of providing 20 families with holiday meals (turkeys, chicken, stuffing, Jiffy mix, vegetables, soups, etc.) Drop off donations by Nov. 26 at the church, 2412 Central Drive in Fort Wayne.
• IvyAEYC, the early childhood education student organization, is sponsoring Sock-a-Palooza through Dec. 8. The group is collecting children’s socks, underwear, mittens, hats, gloves, and scarves for Charis House. Attach donations by clothespin to one of the trees in the Student Life Center, Harshman Hall, the Tech Center, and at Coliseum Campus.
• Students in business classes are raising money to buy straw filtration water systems for Guatemalans in the country’s northern highlands. They are selling $1 bracelets through Nov. 26. The other projects involve raising funds for rain gardens and water filtration systems for Haiti. To donate or learn more, contact Tony Ramey at aramey2@ivytech.edu.
• The Multicultural Student Organization and Office of Diversity Affairs partnered with the Fort Wayne Police Department and collected new or gently used coats for children in need earlier this month.

If you know of any other giving opportunities, leave a comment on this post! Be sure to include the donation deadline as well as what is being collected, who is heading up the collection, and where to bring items.