Holiday Giving Project

           During the Fall 2016 semester I organized a toy drive, which I titled the “Holiday Giving Project”, to provide Christmas gifts to eleven families whose parents/guardians were working to create a better life for themselves. It was a project that was accomplished over a few months and required multiple hours of input to be completed. All of the parents/guardians were either working towards their GED, in college to earn a degree, or taking classes to complete a certificate program. Tallatoona provides assistance with their school tuition, books, and other expenses such as power bills, childcare, and even clothing for their current jobs. Between all families, there were 30 children we were able to provide Christmas gifts for, along with the parents or guardians. It was a fantastic experience that showed me how fortunate and grateful I am of those who support me. The organization and collection for the drive itself showed me how important open communication and teamwork can be; without it the drive would not have been nearly as successful as it was. I choose Tallatoona Community Action Partnership, Inc. because I have worked with them before and I think the program and assistance they provide is a fantastic option for people who need assistance getting ahead. They are not asking for a hand out, they are asking for help to create a better life for themselves and their families. They all work so hard to get where they are and I feel like the more people who are there to stand behind them, the more successful they will become.

            My chosen career path is to work in higher education because I enjoy being a small part in a student’s journey to earn their degree. All of these families are working to expand their education so they are given better opportunities. This project gave me the chance to help relieve some of their stress during the holiday season, which in turn allowed them to focus on their studies more. My journey to earning my degree has had a few bumps in the road but has been worth all of the hard work I have put into it. It is a great feeling knowing that I am getting closer to the finish line and I hope that my service helps these families get to the same finish line. We are all part of a community and if we can find a way to give back, big or small, we can work to create a better world today that leads to an even better tomorrow.