Presence for Christmas

By Missy Dolaway

Loyola University Maryland’s sophomore class and Center for Community Service and Justice (CCSJ) are currently running the annual “Presence for Christmas” program. Every year Loyola sponsors around 1,000 people in providing presents, clothing and food for the holidays. Students and teachers individually can sponsor a child or family, but many of Loyola’s groups and organizations choose to come together for a larger sponsorship.  

There are several ways members of the community get involved in Presence for Christmas. Individuals can sponsor a child by providing gifts, sponsor an adult by purchasing three gifts and a meal, sponsor a classroom by purchasing gifts and providing school supplies for each child in a class, or sponsor a superstore by providing a large amount of unwrapped toys and clothing. A full description of Presence for Christmas and ways to get involved can be found on CCSJ’s website: http://www.loyola.edu/ccsj/community_service/service_options/one_time_service/presence4christmas/.

A unique aspect of Presence for Christmas is the collaboration of groups in undertaking larger donations. Caitlin Humphries, junior class president for the Student Government Association, decided to have the junior class assembly come together to sponsor a family. “We decided that during the Christmas season its nice to give to those who are less fortunate than us,” said Humphries, “and when we sponsor a family we give parents the opportunity to see joy on their child’s face on Christmas morning.”

Humphries and the assembly gathered non-perishable “holiday” foods, movie tickets, gift cards, cleaning supplies and other items to donate to the family they are sponsoring. All donations to Presence for Christmas are brought to Loyola’s annual lessons and carols mass December 9, 2011 at 5:00 pm which they are then sorted and distributed for Christmas.