USF’s
Christmas in September to benefit fire victims
in western states
The University of St. Francis community will attempt to ease the suffering of victims of the 2002 forest fires in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona with a Christmas in September ornament drive. Led by students in USF’s Physician Assistant program based in Albuquerque, N. M., the goal is to collect some 14,000 Christmas and Hanukkah ornaments.
Tina Derr, physician assistant studies student, knows firsthand how much the ornaments can mean. Derr began the ornament drive project partly as a personal thank you for those who gave her family ornaments when they lost their Los Alamos, N.M. home to fires two years ago.
"We lost everything. We received 28 ornaments so we were still able to have a Christmas tree that year. It was such a blessing," said Derr.
"My
heart was breaking for those people losing their
homes. I just wanted to help," said Derr,
who was a nurse for 24 years. It was in the aftermath
of the fires that destroyed her home that she
decided to return to school at the University
of St. Francis and pursue physician assistant
studies. "I wanted to explore other ways
to help people," she said.
Christmas and Hanukkah ornaments will be collected
at USF’s Albuquerque center until Nov. 15.
Ornaments will also be collected at the university’s
main campus in Joliet, Ill. where those in the
Saint Joseph College of Nursing and Allied Health,
under which the physician assistant program operates,
and the Division of Marketing and Enrollment Management
will spearhead the effort.
The
goal is to collect some 14,000 ornaments, providing
20 ornaments for each of the estimated 700 families
affected by the 2002 fires. Ornaments must be
new or in good condition. They may be store bought
or homemade, serious or whimsical, according to
Derr.
"Whatever would make you proud to put on
your tree, I am sure these people will love, "
she said.
Derr
asks that each ornament be placed in a sandwich-like
plastic bag with the giver’s name and hometown.
Students who live or have family and friends in
the fire ravaged areas plan to personally deliver
as many ornaments as possible.
The project is based on one started in 2000 by a Los Alamos woman whose home did not burn. The project blossomed with each family who lost their home receiving more than 20 ornaments each. More than 10,000 ornaments were sent from throughout the world "to bring some joy into a pretty bleak looking holiday. Now, Los Alamos wants to help others," said Derr.
Getting the ornaments was "like a new beginning," said Derr’s daughter, Kristin, 22. Derr recalls getting a beaded angel ornament much like one the family put on their tree for many years before the fire. And there were ornaments made by children that reminded her of her own children’s creations. "It was like getting a piece of your past back so then you could move forward," Derr said. Ornaments for the project should be labeled Christmas Project on the outside.
They
may be sent to USF’s Albuquerque Center,
Suite B, 4401 Silver Ave SE, Albuquerque, N.M.
87108. In Joliet, ornaments may be dropped off
at USF’s main campus, Tower Hall Security
desk at 605 Taylor St.
Ornaments
may be mailed to the University of St. Francis,
500 Wilcox St., Joliet, IL 60435. Nursing students
will also collect ornaments at the university’s
community concert, Quadstock, on Sunday, Sept.
29, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the university’s
grounds.
For more information about the Christmas in September ornament drive, call the Albuquerque Center at (505) 266-5565 or the Joliet campus at (815) 741-7123 or (815) 740-3477. The University of St. Francis is a Catholic, Franciscan institution that serves 4,300 students nationwide. The university offers more than 60 areas of undergraduate study. Ten graduate programs are offered in health care, education and business, including the master of science in Physician Assistant Studies at the university’s Albuquerque, N.M. center.