SRU students devote time to help others in county
SLIPPERY ROCK — Some Slippery Rock University students got a chance to give back Thursday at the annual Season of Giving program.
The event, which took place in the Robert M. Smith Student Center ballroom on SRU's campus, was sponsored by the University Program Board, the student government association and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.
Laurel Dagnon, director of programming for SRU's Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, said the event included students writing cards and creating fit bags for senior citizens in nursing homes, students making blankets for animals and a collection for Toys for Tots.
Students participating in SRU's Christmas Elf Project, which collected toys and clothing for families in Butler County experiencing financial difficulty, dropped their items off at the event.
In addition to that, the program offered a photo booth for students to use, and allowed them to make frames to put the photos in.
“We just have a variety of fun things for the students to do,” Dagnon said.
Mary Miskinis, a junior from Leechburg, was helping out with the First Year Leader Scholar Program (FLSP), which is a leadership development program for freshmen.
She said the group was creating picture frames for students to take as well as writing cards for senior citizens in nursing homes.
Miskinis has participated in the program before and said she likes doing it.
“I just love the whole Christmas spirit here,” Miskinis said.
Erin O'Connor, a freshman from New Castle, was helping out with the FLSP program. She was working on a blanket to be used by animals.
“It's a way to just give back,” O'Connor said.
As a freshman, this was her first time at the event. She said she would like to do it next year.
“I like Christmas. This is Christmas-y,” O'Connor said.
She was there with her friend, Spencer Trodden, a freshman from New Castle. He said he also was enjoying the event.
