Staff and Faculty Open Hearts to Needy at Holiday Fair

By Ioana Patringenaru I December 19, 2005

UCSD employees donated hundreds of toys for sick children this year.

Hundreds of toys were piled in one corner of the Price Center Ballroom. In the hallway, about a dozen bags full of clothes were stacked up neatly. At a nearby table, employees had donated almost $200 for three needy families.

UCSD staff members got in the spirit of the season Wednesday as they enjoyed pancakes during the university's annual breakfast and took part in the concurrent holiday fair.

Several staff organizations were collecting donations and selling goodies to raise funds for the needy and for staff scholarships. Employees could buy jewelry, holiday decorations and cards, among other things.

"I love shopping," said Karen Hackley, who works in admissions. "And what better way to shop and support different organizations and staff?"

Employees did some holiday shopping and helped raise funds for several causes during this year's holiday fair on Dec. 14 just outside of the Price Center Ballroom.

Hackley had just bought a holiday decoration that looks like a cow. Her purchase helped raise funds for this year's charitable effort by the Chicano/Latino Staff Association. Co-president Lourdes Felix had spent hours shopping for presents for the three families and five foster children the association adopted. Her purchases included shoes, sweats and toys. Wednesday, the organization raised $181, which will allow Felix to buy $50 grocery gift cards for each adopted family.

"We got more than enough," she said Friday. "I'm impressed."

A few yards away, toys were piling up in the Price Center Ballroom. They will go to children at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center and the UCSD Medical Center. Every year, the drive yields about 700 to 800 toys, said toy drive coordinator Deb McManus. Lea Ruiz-Ade, who works in the School of Medicine, had brought a stuffed kitten for the drive.

Employees have pancakes and other goodies during this year's pancake breakfast on Dec. 14 at the Price Center Ballroom.

"It's an awful thing for a child to be in the hospital," she said. "And it's even worse on Christmas. I hope this will help brighten their day."

The Associated Students Volunteer Connection also was involved with the drive, said Meredyth Potter, the UCSD Bookstore Marketing Manager.

Other staff members brought donations for a clothing drive put on by the Veterans Association at UCSD. Treasurer Edna Fugazzi showed off jackets and bags full of sweaters, shoes and other men's clothes. She also pointed to piles of folded towels. All will go to the nonprofit Veterans Village of San Diego, which runs a rehab facility and a homeless shelter.