The holiday season brings with it Christmas trees, snowy days, shopping, wrapping gifts, cooking and spending time with family and friends. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it is easy to lose focus on the real spirit of the season.
But even at the end of a busy semester, the students, faculty and staff of Lees-McRae College didn’t forget the spirit of giving and helping others.
As part of the College’s dedication to service learning and community outreach, Lees-McRae students, faculty and staff were involved in several service opportunities, which helped those in need in the surrounding communities during the holidays.
The annual canned food drive allowed the College to donate over 600 cans of food to the Ram’s Rack, and the toy drive generated a number of toys for local children this holiday season.
Thirty residents of the Life Care Center in Banner Elk were adopted from the annual Life Care angel tree. Each of them received several gifts from Santa while Lees-McRae staff members sang Christmas carols up and down the halls of the facility.
In addition, 80 Avery County residents were adopted as part of the Avery Angels program that involved several area families and a number of children adopted through the Western Youth Network.
“The generosity of Lees-McRae students, faculty, and staff is overwhelming this time of year. We had a huge response of kindness to both the canned food drive and the Avery Angel program,” said Annie Pasqua, director of community outreach. “It is wonderful to be a part of a community who reaches beyond themselves to ensure that others have a wonderful holiday season.”