OXFORD, Miss. – You’re never too young – or too old – to
help others, especially during the Christmas holiday
season.
Such is the mindset of children at the Willie Price Nursery
School and students of Gamma Beta Phi at the University of
Mississippi. When the two groups learned about the Black
Faculty and Staff Organization’s annual “Books and Bears”
drive, they both decided to contribute new toys to be given
to children of UM Physical Plant employees.
Nursery school children conducted a bake sale to raise
funds used to purchase toys. Students in the national honor
and service organization buy toys throughout the year as
part of their community service.
Dozens of toys from the two groups were delivered to the
Lyceum Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and added to other
donations.
“Giving and sharing with others is what this season is all
about,” said Carolyn Allen, kindergarten teacher at Willie
Price. “Vicki Stewart (fellow kindergarten teacher) and I
believe it is important to teach our students to share with
others and are glad to support a project that benefits the
university community.”
“Gamma Beta Phi members contribute to the community in
multiple ways,” said Denis Goulet, biology instructor and
co-faculty adviser to the organization. “In this case, the
students donated toys. We try to support the needs of those
within the university community first and foremost.”
Donald Cole, assistant provost and assistant to the
chancellor for multicultural affairs, expressed
appreciation to the children and students.
“My heart is simply overwhelmed,” Cole said. “Their
generosity, effort and genuineness would even touch the
Grinch’s heart. They have put me in the mood for giving,
and I can be assured that these are gifts that children
will desire since they were picked by experts in the
field.”
This is the 10th year new teddy bears, children’s books and
toys have been collected for children of custodians,
groundskeepers and other service workers. Distribution
takes place Friday (Dec. 14) in the Student Union
Ballroom.