November 21, 2016
Student group will make the holidays brighter for families
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Operation: Sgt. Santa is getting ready to roll.
Making the holidays a little brighter for some area families, the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Public Relations Student Society of America will present $100 Kohl’s gift cards to several children of university students for a special “Shop with a Cop” evening that includes a dinner and holiday activities.
Media Advisory
Members of the media are welcome to share the good feeling of Operation: Sgt. Santa beginning at the Student Center, 5:30-830 p.m. on Dec. 7. Children who’ve received an Operation: Sgt. Santa award will go shopping at Kohl’s Department Store, accompanied by a member of the SIU Department of Public Safety, while their families remain at the Student Center for arts and crafts. Contact Josh Houston, senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies, at 618/453-2296 or jhouston@siu.edu; or contact Jamie Dexter, vice president of the SIU Carbondale Public Relations Student Society of America, at jamiedexter@siu.edu.
The selected children and their families will come to the Operation: Sgt. Santa “headquarters” at the Student Center on Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., to enjoy a meal and arts and crafts. While their families are occupied with the arts and crafts, the awardees go on a shopping spree at Kohl’s Department Store, accompanied by members of the SIU Department of Public Safety. The children shop not only for themselves, but also for their family. When they return from the shopping trip, PRSSA members help them wrap their gifts.
Applications for parents are available at the main office of Evergreen Park Apartments and at the Boys & Girls Club in Carbondale. Return applications to the same sites.
Those who’d like to donate should contact Jamie Dexter, vice president of the Public Relations Student Society of America, at 815/471-5330 or at jamiedexter@siu.edu.