The Christmas spirit is alive and well at The University of Findlay. Several groups and organizations have hosted Christmas parties, held spirited contests and helped others to make sure many people have a merry Christmas.

As a host site for the second year in a row, UF hosted a Toys for Tots Christmas party in the Alumni Memorial Union (AMU) Dec. 7 and continued to collect toys through Dec. 15. UF students, faculty, staff and friends collected 190 toys and $54 for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Christmas project.

Student employees from the recreational services department filled stockings with goodies for two local families. A group of 14 students personally delivered the gifts to the families' homes.

Earlier this month, 29 student employees from The University of Findlay’s recreational services department helped to 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.

Students shopped for clothing, other miscellaneous essential items and toys. The group also purchased a Christmas meal for each family as well as additional food to last a couple of weeks. Fourteen students delivered the items directly to the families’ homes.

Sponsored by the Hospitality Management Club, Christmas on Campus was held Dec. 3. UF students assisted 62 elementary school students from Jacobs, Washington and Lincoln elementary schools decorate cookies and make three reindeer-inspired crafts. All children received a gift from Santa and participated in a story reading and theatre performance.

Nov. 27 through Dec. 1, the University participated in the community-wide Coats for Christmas campaign. UF students, faculty and staff donated 102 coats, 23 hats and 53 pairs of gloves to the effort. Coats were taken to City Dry Cleaning and Laundry Co. where they were cleaned at no cost. All items were distributed to community members Dec. 9-10 at Washington Intermediate School in Findlay.

The Public Relations Student Society of America held the sixth annual Deck the Trees event Nov. 30 in the AMU. Twenty-seven student organizations decorated Christmas trees based on the theme “Every Time a Bell Rings, an Angel Gets Its Wings.”

Cash prizes were given to the winners: Technology and Gaming Club for both best of show and people’s choice awards; Pre-Vet Club for best representation of theme; and Horse Club for most creative entry. Community members were invited to view the trees, decorate cookies and enjoy caroling by UF students.