November 19, 2005
Library Affairs' third annual drive Donations will brighten holidays for children
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Faculty and staff in Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Library Affairs division are asking the campus community and community at large to help brighten the holidays for less-fortunate children.
For the third year in a row, Library Affairs is partnering with the Poshard Foundation and "Pat's Kids" - founded by WUEZ 95.1 radio host Pat Benton - to raise money to buy gifts and essential items for abused, neglected and abandoned children. Glenn Poshard, who also serves as chair of the SIU Board of Trustees, will light a Christmas tree in Morris Library's Hall of Presidents at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 22, to kick off the fund-raising effort. He also will provide Library Affairs with letters from children that detail their situations and holiday wishes.
Library Affairs will turn the donations over to area women's shelters in the name of each child. Staff members from the shelters then will shop with the mothers to buy gifts and necessities for the children.
Library staff will place an ornament on the tree to honor each donor.
The circulation desk will accept donations whenever the library is open. In addition, staff in the administrative office, now located in the Northwest Annex, will accept donations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The fund-raising effort runs through Dec. 10, after which donors who wish may take ornaments home as keepsakes.
Last year, Library Affairs raised $5,000.
Serving others is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.