Holiday Giving
Stony Brook University strives to give back to the community all year round, but giving takes on special importance during the holidays. Below we list some of the ways we're working to meet the needs of our neighbors during this holiday season.
The Stony Brook Cares Campaign is the University's annual fundraising drive that collects and distributes urgently needed contributions to hundreds of charitable organizations, giving vital aid and support to thousands of people in need. Stony Brook Cares has achieved amazing results right here in our own community, across the nation, and around the world.
Campus Haiti Relief, a program of the Division of Campus Residences, provides support to the Maison Fortune Orphanage in the wake of the earthquake. They provide shelter, schooling, and medical attention as well as meal service programs and educational services for local children.
The Craft Center is collecting new and gently used stuffed animals and baby doll clothing for a fundraiser event. Drop off now through November 28 at the Craft Center, Union lower level, room 049. On November 29 the Center will host a Stuffed Animal Makeover event where SB students can “adopt a pet” and decorate it using craft materials. Proceeds to benefit the SB Children’s Hospital. Call 632-6822 for more details.
Holiday Love provides underprivileged children with the holiday they deserve. Children and parents from the Sunshine Prevention Center in Port Jefferson are invited to a holiday celebration with games, crafts, food, dancing, a Christmas tree and a guest appearance by Santa. All children who attend also receive a special present. Holiday Love is completely volunteer-based and run by Stony Brook students.
Island Harvest is the largest hunger relief organization on Long Island. They collect good surplus food from more than 600 local restaurants, caterers, farms, and other food-related businesses; and distribute it to a network of nearly 500 soup kitchens, food pantries, and other places where those in need can access it. Island Harvest is highly volunteer-based and mostly relies on donations.
For more than 45 years, Port Jefferson-based Madonna Heights has helped adolescent girls, women and families overcome the devastating effects of poverty, neglect and abuse. Donate, volunteer to serve in a program, support events, or become a foster parent.
Toys for Tots is a well-known fund-raiser that the Department of Central Services holds every year around the holidays. Participants are asked to donate an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl and bring it to 127 Engineering Undergraduate Student Office, which is also accepting non-perishable food items for LI Cares (Hauppauge) and men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing for Big Brothers, Big Sisters (Islandia).
UUP Community Services Committee will assist Calvary Chapel of Holbrook at their Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Distribution. Calvary Chapel provides thousands of meals to individuals and families who otherwise would go without a Thanksgiving dinner. UUP also collects donations for the weekly soup kitchen.
The Wellness Center, located in the Student Activities Center, Room 307, is holding a canned food drive through November 30, 2011. Any faculty, staff or affiliate who brings in two canned goods will be able to use the Wellness Center without vharge that day with a valid Stony Brook University ID.
