As the holiday season approached this year, the AUC community gave back in big ways. In Sint Maarten, the AUC campus hosted two donation drives: one benefiting food banks around the island and a second for orphanaged children.
Puzzles, board games, stuffed animals, and other toys filled two large boxes around campus as AUC students and staff endeavored to make the holidays brighter for deserving but less fortunate children. The annual gift drive collected new and unwrapped toys for K1 Britannia Foundation, a charitable organization that works with children in foster care in Sint Maarten. Through their Christmas Angels Program, K1 Britannia Foundation staff handed out donations to hundreds of orphanaged children as well as eldercare residents and other vulnerable populations.
Gerard Lake, AUC’s Manager of Safety and Security, helped organize the gift drive—a tradition he has proudly coordinated for several years. He gave a special thanks to Dr. Mike Michel, Professor of Physiology, Dr. Mary Lucero, Professor of Physiology, and Morrisia Nicholas, Supervisor of Library Services whose generous contributions helped AUC reach its donation goal.
Another set of bins lined campus for the American Medical Women’s Association’s (AMWA) food drive. Together with Adtalem EDGE, AMWA challenged students and staff to collect food and cooking supplies to help feed the homeless, hungry, and disabled.
“It was a great way to give back to the community and offer students a place to donate unused food and supplies before leaving for break,” said Sonali Alluri, third semester student and co-president of AMWA.
Semesters competed against one another to see who could gather the most donations. Over two weeks, the campus community was able to fill several bags with food. Students in the third semester emerged as the winning cohort.
All donations were distributed to meal programs at Sister Basilia Center, Christian Faith Ministries Church, the C.O.M.E. Center, and Seventh Day Adventist Church in time for the holidays. Sites were selected for their work to feed local communities and supply afterschool children’s programs, soup kitchens, and semi-independent living communities for disabled persons.
“I’m so proud the food drive was a success,” said Sonali. “We look forward to hosting more drives through AMWA next semester.”
AMWA has already announced plans to run a feminine hygienic product drive in 2020. Donations will be handed out to shelters like Safe Haven as well as local churches in Sint Maarten. To speak with a member of AMWA’s e-board, email [email protected].