OXFORD, Miss. – The Christmas holiday season got a whole lot brighter for the children and families of University of Mississippi Physical Plant employees as they received gifts at the Ole Miss Union Ballroom Friday morning (Dec. 16).
Smiles abounded as members of the Black Faculty and Staff Organization distributed more than 300 gifts through its annual Bears and Books program. The items were donated by UM faculty, staff and students, and Oxford merchants over the past three weeks. Reception was enthusiastic.
“Whatever I receive here will help my children enjoy Christmas and beyond,” said Joyce Benson, a custodian from Water Valley. “I have an 8-year-old I’m keeping and she loves to read, so I’m hoping to get either some good books or educational computer software.”
The donations were noticed and very much appreciated by BFSO officials.
“It is just amazing! The thoughtfulness of even our local children toward others who are less fortunate captures the spirit of the holidays,” said Donald Cole, associate provost and assistant to the chancellor for multicultural affairs. “We can certify their gifts as ‘child-desired’ since they were hand-picked by the experts!”
Many of the employees expressed their pleasure over the assistance in obtaining toys and books for their children.
“My children are all grown, so I’ll donate whatever I’m given to someone else who has smaller children,” said Kim Sawyer of Oxford.
Custodian Kim Pearson, who is expecting a baby to be born in May, said she intends to give her gifts to her niece and nephew. “It always makes me happy to see them happy,” she said.
The ladies were not the only ones expressing thankfulness about the donations.
“I have a 6-year-old niece who, if I’m lucky today, will get a new bicycle for Christmas,” said custodian Mike Wohlwend of Oxford. “She also likes Barbie dolls, cars and trucks. Whatever I give her, she’ll be happy.”
Marcus Daniels of Abbeville said gifts like bicycles and iPods are tough items to buy in these difficult economic times. “Books and Bears is a huge help to me in times like these,” he said.
Gamma Beta Phi service fraternity contributed a significant number of items for the program, Cole said. In addition to the usual dolls, books and games, a number of new bicycles and tricycles were given by an anonymous donor, he added.
This is the 14th year new that teddy bears, children’s books and toys have been collected for children of custodial and grounds workers.