FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 25, 2016, 9:00 a.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402.872.2429

Peru, Nebraska- Peru State College students, faculty and staff have a long tradition of community service and charitable giving. Despite the press of finals and the end of the semester, campus organizations are still working to meet holiday and seasonable needs.

Staff, faculty and student organizations were asked to provide a short synopsis of their activities over the holiday season and any photos they might have taken as they served.

Toy Drive
This year, a consolidated group of campus organizations held the 2016 holiday toy drive.  Collection boxes were located on the Peru State College campus in TJ Majors, Hoyt, Jindra, the AWAC, the Student Center and CATS from November 28 to December 9.

Frank Lynott, the Hispanic Latino Student Association advisor, wrote in November, “Phi Beta Lambda, the Hispanic Latino Student Association, the Black Student Union, Kappa Omicron Rho, and the Peru Disc Golf Association look to meet or beat last year’s collection total.  For this drive we are accepting new and gently used toys.”

This year more than 125 new and gently used toys were donated. In 2015 over 100 items were collected.
Dr. Sheri Grotrian-Ryan, PBL advisor, writes, “Toys will be donated to Growing Great Kids. Phi Beta Lambda, Hispanic Latino Student Association, BlackStudent Union, Kappa Omicron Rho, and Peru Disc Golf Association thank everyone who supported this event. Happy Holidays.”

GreatKidsInc.org writes, “Great Kid’s vision is to protect children and their childhoods, while giving every parent the opportunity to feel confident and competent.”

“We aim to have every child feel safe and secure, loved and valued, curious and capable. GKI’s mission is to partner with parents to reduce their stress and grow the essential parenting and life skills that will empower them to provide their children with a safe, loving home, and the inner strengths to reach their highest developmental potential.”

Feeding 44
Peru State’s Feeding 44 held sessions in November and December. Feeding 44 serves more than 150 people a month in Peru alone.

Feeding 44 is a mobile food distribution partnered with Peru State College, Catholic Social Services and the Food Bank of Lincoln.

 LAE Members helping with Feeding 44: Christian Sanchez, Lina Torres, Samantha Carlson, Samantha Daake, (faculty advisor) Dr. Amber Mahan and Andrew Mahan.

LAE Members helping with Feeding 44: Christian Sanchez, Lina Torres, Samantha Carlson, Samantha Daake, (faculty advisor) Dr. Amber Mahan and Andrew Mahan.

Auburn Christmas Opening:
The Peru State softball team volunteered with the Auburn Christmas Opening. Players helped children decorate cookies and color pictures while they were waiting to see Santa Claus.

Project Linus:
On Monday, December 5, PILOT Club sponsored a Project Linus activity. Peru State students and PILOT Club members made fleece blankets that will be donated to Omaha-area hospitals for their children patients.

ProjectLinus.org writes, “First provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer blanketeers”

The purpose of PILOT is to provide an opportunity for the students at PSC to volunteer in service learning projects that will benefit others.  Targeted groups will include, but not limited to, agencies that serve those with learning and physical disabilities, retirement and nursing homes, food banks, nonprofit groups such as Peru Day Care and Girl Scouts, as well as other organizations such as Project Response, Hearts United for Animals, etc.

Campus Decorating
Students were heavily involved in the efforts to decorate the Peru State campus. The Peru State Foundation helps fund holiday decorations for the College.

Members of the golf team helped to decorate the President’s house for the Magic of Christmas gatherings. Afterwards they were invited to eat and tell about favorite Christmas songs and traditions.

Emily Whipple, Jessica Weickert, Marisa Pribnow and Lindsay Harlow help decorate the President's House.

Emily Whipple, Jessica Weickert, Marisa Pribnow and Lindsay Harlow help decorate the President's House.

Members of the National Association for the Music Education also helped decorate on campus. The students assisted Todda Wren in hanging garland around the Student Center railing. They also helped decorate light poles on the quad. Cookies and hot cocoa were enjoyed afterwards in the President’s Home.

Rebecca Denise and Derick Pounds help decorate the President's House.

Rebecca Denise and Derick Pounds help decorate the President's House.

Adopt-A-Family
Lambda Alpha Epsilon adopted a family of three children this season. Toys, pillows and other gifts were collected for the family.

Kappa Omicron Rho is the chapter of American Criminal Justice Society – Lambda Alpha Epsilon on the Peru State Campus. The criminal justice honor’s society seeks to promote high standards of ethical conduct, professional training, and higher education within the criminal justice field.

Samantha Carlson and Samantha Daake pose with the gathered presents.

Samantha Carlson and Samantha Daake pose with the gathered presents.

Rake-a-thon
The Student Athlete Advisory Council, including members of the baseball, softball, men’s basketball, golf, cross country, volleyball and football teams, raked leaves in Peru in November. Eighty student-athletes and coaches participated.

The groups raked 25 yards which amounted to 36 truckloads of leaves taken to the compost pile. In addition, 12 bags of trash were picked up as a couple of the groups were assigned to trash detail.

Committee member Samantha Carlson noted, “It was a great morning bonding with other teams. I think it was a successful time and I am looking forward to see what the future community service projects are that we come up with.

Helena Figueiredo and Cristina Viera raking leaves in downtown Peru.

Helena Figueiredo and Cristina Viera raking leaves in downtown Peru.

Wrapping Presents 1 & 2
The volleyball team wrapped gifts for residents of Longs Creek Village.

Phi Beta Lambda wrapped presents at Shoppes at Shadow Lake. A free will donation was accepted to benefit the honor’s society.

Salvation Army and SENCA

Students are not the only ones to give during the holiday season. Staff and faculty have been involved in most if not all of the above listed events and activities.

The Professional Staff Senate supported SENCA by ringing Salvation Army bells at SunMart in Auburn on Saturday morning, December 3. 90% of the donations stay in Nemaha County and the other 10% goes to the Salvation Army. The funds are used to help needy families during the winter months for things like utilities, rent, etc.

Southeast Nebraska Community Action Council, Inc. (SENCA) was incorporated for the purpose of developing and operating any and all community action programs and activities. SENCA is headquartered in Humboldt, Nebraska.

St. Nicholas Program

Faculty and staff were able to wear jeans on Friday, December 2 if they brought toys for boys and girls of any age, stocking stuffers or holiday treats to donate to the St. Nicholas Program sponsored by Catholic Social Service in Auburn. The St. Nicholas Program received approximately 86 toys and stocking stuffers for southeast Nebraska children in need.

The St. Nicholas Program is coordinated by Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska.   Catholic Social Services traces its origin to 1932 and the Great Depression.

Presents collected for the St. Nicholas Program.

Presents collected for the St. Nicholas Program.

More
Dr. Dan Hanson, Peru State College President writes, “For the past six years, the College’s strategic plan has included student engagement. We believe that engagement connects students to an education that benefits more than themselves.”

Hanson adds, “Throughout the year, our students work to give back to our communities. However, I am always impressed by our push to do more at the end of year despite all the other pressures of college life.”

“There are many more examples of the great work our students, faculty and staff do in our communities and region. It’s great to be a Bobcat.”


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For more information, visit www.peru.edu or call 1-800-742-4412.