Orange Angels to provide Christmas gifts for needy children

Orange Angels to provide Christmas gifts for needy childrenDecember 06, 2007SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

While many members of the University community will be departing for a relaxing winter break and joyous holiday season, many of the children and teenagers in the City of Syracuse are living either at or below the poverty level and will experience a very different holiday season. To help bring smiles to these children’s faces during this time of year, the Residence Hall Association (RHA), in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Syracuse, is sponsoring the second annual Orange Angels program.

Orange Angels enables members of the University community to sponsor at least one child from the Boys & Girls Club by purchasing a minimum of one gift (of at least $12 in value) for the child to make his or her holiday season much brighter. RHA received a list of more than 500 children in need from the Boys & Girls Club and has created a series of cards that sponsors can take. These cards have the child’s name, age, gender and Boys & Girls Club location. These children also have a gift idea on their wish list that will be provided to sponsors when being assigned to an individual. There is no limit to how many gifts a person can buy for one child, nor is there a limit on how many children a sponsor can take at one time.

The Orange Angels initiative sponsored 380 Syracuse youths during the 2006 holiday season. This year, RHA is planning to sponsor 530 children and teenagers at various Boys & Girls Club locations throughout the city.

On Monday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m., representatives from the Boys and Girls Club will be picking up the gifts from the RHA office at 111 Waverly Ave.

RHA is a student group sponsored by SU’s Office of Residence Life composed of students elected to serve the residential population at SU and improve the quality of life for students living in the residence halls.

To learn more about the Orange Angels initiative and RHA, contact any of the following individuals:

Megan Woods Director of Community Service(315) 443-2638 (RHA Office)(215) 872-4272 (Cell Phone)mewoods@syr.edu Michael GrzelakResidence Hall Association President(315) 443-2638 (RHA Office)(603) 455-6539 (Cell Phone)msgrzela@syr.eduMichelle MurrayResidence Hall Association AdvisorAssistant DirectorOffice of Residence Life, Syracuse University(315)443-3637 (Office)mmurra04@syr.edu