Presence for Christmas
By Ashley Twaddell-Staff
Even though we are not yet to Halloween, the Christmas season is right around the corner. Can you imagine not receiving any holiday presents this year? Many families living in Baltimore are in situations where they may not be able to adequately provide food for their families, let alone holiday presents for their children. You have the opportunity to be a part of the lives of these families and connect with our community by sponsoring families and children through the Presence for Christmas, an annual program sponsored by CCSJ and the Sophomore Class Assembly which provides gifts for people who are marginalized through local community agencies. These agencies include St. Vincent de Paul Society, The Ark Preschool, Refugee Youth Project, Esperanza Center,
Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital and many others. Each year, about 350 children receive gifts, and 90 families receive food baskets and gifts. Opportunities to register to sponsor individual children will begin on campus Oct. 25 and continue through Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. outside of Boulder Café, as well as after Sunday Masses in Alumni Chapel on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. All family sponsorships will be conducted using online registration through the Presence for Christmas website. Visit www.loyola.edu/presence to sign up. The final deadline for signing up is Friday, Nov. 12.
