King's community reaches out to help others with Christmas giving campaigns

Christmas is traditionally a time of giving and thinking about those in our community. Once again this year, the King’s community has taken the opportunity to give back.

From mid-November until the first week of December, the School of Social Work had a giving Christmas tree set up in the mezzanine, outside of the Social Work office at Labatt Hall.  Staff, faculty and students were invited to take a tag off the tree and purchase a present for a child for Christmas. On each tag was information about a child (their age and gender).

The Christmas Gift Drive program was organized by a School of Social Work student on a practicum placement at the John Howard Society with support from Julie Siverns, Social Work Programs Assistant.

This year’s Christmas Gift Drive, just completed, received seven boxes of toys and gift cards for children aged 6-16-years-old.

King’s Campus Ministry helped collect diapers, sleepers and other items for expectant families or families with young children and who are in need for the London Crisis Pregnancy Centre.  Additionally, over 400 shoeboxes of items were collected, filled, wrapped and delivered to the St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre. Shoeboxes were donated by members of Christ the King University Parish and by staff, faculty and students at King’s. The gifts were to be distributed to guests at the Centre on December 14th, as part of the food and hospitality program run by Campus Ministry and supported by staff and faculty across King’s and the parish. The St. Joseph’s Hospitality nights continue in 2020 on the first and second Saturday of the month. For more information on King's involvement with the St. Joseph's Hospitality Centre: visit www.kings.uwo.ca/campus-ministry/get-involved/social-justice-outreach/coffee-house

As part of the annual Sock Drive, socks were collected by several departments across campus, and then donated to the Salvation Army and Mission Services of London through the Lambeth Lions Club. Sock donations are still being accepted in donation boxes set up in Wemple lobby and in the Student Life Centre. New and used pairs and single socks are accepted.

For over 25 years, the King’s Christmas Families program has been collecting donations of unwrapped gifts for the Children’s Aid Society at Christmas. This year, unwrapped gifts and donations will continue to be collected until December 17, 2019.

A Christmas Wish list can be found in the following locations:

• Reception – Wemple Hall
• Central Services – Wemple Hall
• Social Work office – Labatt Hall
• Faculty Secretaries’ Office – Dante Lenardon Hall

“It is the generous donations from the King’s Staff Association and members of the King’s community that make this a success every year.  King’s is a place where people matter and this is just another one of the many examples of that,” says Jeni Somerton, Receptionist/Communications Operator at King’s.

In addition to their continued online payroll deduction campaign, the United Way held its Silent Auction on December 5, 2019. Through the efforts of the United Way Committee at King’s and via the generous donations and support from the King’s community, this year’s Silent Auction raised $3521 to help support those in need. A 50/50 draw will be held during the annual Christmas lunch held on December 20, 2019 for King’s staff and faculty to also support the United Way.

Additionally, King's recently celebrated donations of a different kind, those that support students at King’s, as we celebrated student success. At the end of November, King’s announced and distributed over 168 awards and scholarships, totaling approximately $230,000 as part of our annual Student Awards Ceremony. Approximately 300 people, including recipients, donors, family, and friends attended the ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of our students.

“We are grateful for the many alumni, parents and friends who give of their time and resources to ensure the College’s success and that of current and future generations of students. As you celebrate and reflect during this holiday season, please remember King’s. Your financial support is vital to help us continue to provide scholarships and financial aid to award outstanding achievement and meet student need, support faculty teaching and research, invest in our facilities and programs, and enhance an already vibrant campus life,”  says Kim Malcolm, Manager of Development.

Donations to the Foundation which are received, or postmarked, on or before December 31st will receive a 2019 tax receipt. Please consider donating today and giving the gift that keeps on giving! For more information, please visit https://www.kings.uwo.ca/alumni/support-kings/.