By Chris Cunningham
The Scene staff
It’s the holiday season again, and Forest Park is doing its part to help others enjoy it.
Several clubs and organizations have been involved in charitable activities.
The Human Services Club collected hundreds of canned goods and donated them to four students in need and to Kingdom House Food Pantry.
“All of the families we have helped have given us thank-you cards,” said Angela Roffle, assistant professor and Human Services Club coordinator. “… A couple of them wouldn’t have been able to have Thanksgiving dinner had it not been for the help.”
The annual drive helps to feed families not only on Thanksgiving, but throughout the holiday season.
Roffle encourages people to donate in the future.
“Just picking up one extra (food) item can go toward helping a family that doesn’t have anything to eat,” she said.
Student Nurse Association
The Student Nurse Association also held a food drive this semester. It donated about 100 canned goods to Food Outreach, which supports people with HIV, AIDS and cancer.
“Sometimes, they do blood-pressure screenings,” said adviser Sandra Hall. “Sometimes, they collect diapers and supplies for Nurses for Newborns.”
Stitch ‘n’ Chat
Stitch ‘n’ Chat is made up of employees who gather every Tuesday to knit and crochet in the business, math and techn ology conference room.
“Originally, it was to get together to enjoy each other’s company, learn new skills (and) share pattern ideas,” said department secretary Linda Basich, who co-founded the group.
The focus changed when member Carletta Kemp, student services assistant at Florissant Valley, heard about a New York City man who knitted hats and left them outside for the homeless.
Since 2009, Stitch ‘n’ Chat has donated hats and scarves every holiday season to St. Patrick Center, an organization in downtown St. Louis that provides employment services and housing to the homeless.
Stitch ‘n’ Chat donated 156 hats and 37 scarves this semester.
“That’s a new record,” said Basich, noting the group donated 94 hats and 38 scarves last year.
The group also makes baby blankets and hats for local nurseries and teddy bears for the Mother Bear Project, which gives teddy bears to children with HIV in poor countries.
Automotive Technology
The automotive technology department is holding a food drive through Dec. 10 with plans to fill a Ford Escape and drive it to the St. Louis Food Bank.
Department chairman Rick Anthes learned of the organization through his wife’s involvement.
“What we liked about them was that they weren’t a religious affiliate,” he said. “… That can sometimes turn people off.”
The food bank encouraged the department to come up with a theme.
“We have a Ford Escape hybrid sitting in the shop,” Anthes said. “Since we are going to take the canned goods out there, I figured it would all fit in the Escape.”
Hospitality Studies
Hospitality Studies faculty members Casey Shiller, Gerald Hamilton and Rob Hertel helped package pies last month for an Operation Food Search fundraiser.
Hertel estimated that they packaged about 700 pies, which were sold at River City Casino. Proceeds went toward helping the homeless.
“It was for a good cause,” Hertel said. “That was the big picture.”
Radiology Department
Radiology students organized a toy drive for the Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital as part of a service learning project.
They collected $382, as well as toys.
Sociology Department
Beyond holiday-related efforts at Forest Park, associate professor of sociology Andrea Nichols collects old cell phones all year for Shelter Alliance, a company that recycles them and sends the profits to various charities.
Last year, Nichols raised $500 for AWARE, a Barnes-Jewish Hospital group that helps victims of domestic violence.
“We are all a part of a community of humanity, and if we are concerned with one another’s existence, then it’s a good idea to be engaged in activism and to contribute to your community,” she said..