This December, 29 student employees from The University of Findlay’s recreational services department will give two local families a happy holiday. In lieu of receiving payment for hours worked, each student employee donated between six and eight hours of work during November to raise $1,300 for gifts and food.

Bryan Golding, UF director of recreational services, contacted the Salvation Army and asked to “adopt” two local families this Christmas season. The Salvation Army chose two needy families, each with several children, and passed on family members’ Christmas wish lists to the University group.

Students will shop for clothing, other miscellaneous essential items and toys. The group also will purchase a Christmas meal for each family as well as additional food to last a couple of weeks. The items will be delivered directly to the families’ homes before Christmas.

“It’s been overwhelming to see this many students get involved in a project like this and take off with it,” said Golding. “Our students are very special here at UF, and the best thing about it is that they don’t really want any recognition for it.”

This is the second year this project has been undertaken by the department, and according to Golding, there is even more excitement this year. Several students have asked if they could sing Christmas carols to the families. Another student wants to dress up like Santa Claus to deliver the gifts.

The students from recreational services are not alone in their holiday efforts. Other organizations on campus have been collecting coats, mittens, hats and toys for many needy families in the community. Another student group organized a Christmas party for local elementary school students.