Our 2018 Holiday Heroes

ALBANY, N.Y. (Dec. 11, 2018) – UAlbany students collected busload of clothing, toys and electronics to help more than 3,000 kids and families in the Capital Region this season as part of Residential Life’s annual Holiday Heroes drive.

For the 10th year, the donations were given to Northern Rivers, the parent corporation of Northeast Parent & Child Society and the Parsons Child and Family Center, which provides services for children, adults and families in 36 upstate counties in New York.

Students began collecting donations and fundraising in residence halls in early November, in a drive led by resident directors, apartment coordinators and student staff.

“They spent many hours collecting various donations such as deposit cans and bottles, making unique and creative gifts to sell, or connecting with residents to make donations,” said Jameelee Ford, the assistant director for community development in UAlbany’s Department of Residential Life, who said the department raised more than $5,000 – $1,000 more than last year.

Parking & Mass Transit Services provided a bus to collect donations from the Quads and University Apartments and delivered them to Northern Rivers on Dec. 7.

“This program specifically deals with our Division of Student Affairs programming model called UAlbany WAY (Wellbeing and You), which focuses on five pathways for a healthy and successful college experience,” Ford said. “This program fulfilled the pathway of 'Meaning,' which encourages our students to participate in activities and experiences that will have a greater impact on the campus and local communities.”

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