Each year since 2002, campus personnel and students come together to donate food items to be included in a Thanksgiving basket for 24 to 30 area families in need. Various schools throughout the community identify these families. This occasion has become one of our most rewarding and cherished events.
In late October, an email will be sent out to CCC staff and students requesting them to “adopt” a family with a suggested shopping list attached. Large plastic tubs are provided to those wishing to adopt a family. There will be 6 families from each school with each family identified only by first name, gender and age. Baskets are due by the Monday (11/19) before Thanksgiving delivered to the gym. Schools will pick up all of their baskets and deliver to each family on Tuesday (11/20).
Email from one of the schools:
Dear Jean, Keith and CCC Volunteers,
I would like to thank you all for the bountiful Thanksgiving baskets and your time. You constantly amaze me with your generosity and thoughtfulness. Thank you for thinking of Sabater School once again and I look forward to seeing all of you at the Celebration of Lights program.
Sincerely,
Kenny Smith
Sabater Elementary School
Social Worker
On December 12, 2018, during this festive time of the year, the college, in cooperation with area schools, identifies 24 young children from needy families. Each child will have 4 tags placed on the Christmas tree and CCC staff and students select one or more tags to purchase a Christmas gift for each child (2 toys, a coat & shirt & pants). Also included is a special visit from Santa and his elves that pass out the wrapped gifts to each child. The entire college community looks forward to this favorite and heartwarming event in the Luciano Conference Banquet room between 12:30 to 2:30pm.
During the celebration, the young students will each receive a large plush stocking filled with candy and other miscellaneous stocking stuffers. They will have a chance to visit various stations and learn about different holiday traditions from around the world.
Celebration of Lights includes:
• Face Painting
• Children’s craft station
• Boxing Day
• Hanukkah
• Kwanzaa
• Winter Solstice
• Traditional Christmas
• Christmas Around the World with Vets
• Three Kings Day
• Story Time
• Carolers and live music
• Food samples from each cultural holiday