Giving Smiles for the Holidays
During the holiday season, remembering those who need help seems to come naturally for members of the Tulane community. Groups are collecting toys, clothing and books for needy children and donations to assist cancer patients.
Tulane staff members gave generously last year at a toy drive spearheaded by the Staff Advisory Council, which is under way again. (Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano)
⢠The Tulane Staff Advisory Council is holding a toy drive for local Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children.
Donations can be dropped off or made online through Dec. 4. Also, by donating a toy at each Tulane men's basketball home game until Dec. 4, you can purchase a reduced-price ticket for $5. For information about the project, e-mail Desiree Waguespack or call 985-871-6530.
⢠Tulane resident physicians in medicine-pediatrics, in conjunction with the Tulane Resident & Fellow Congress, are holding their “Smiles for the Holidays” toy and clothing drive. Donated items and monetary gifts are welcome through Dec. 10.
The resident physicians will wrap the gifts and host a holiday party at Covenant House, New Orleans' largest residential facility for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. Donations also will be distributed at Tulane and Ochsner pediatric units and at various homeless shelters, mental health centers and clinics.
Drop-off boxes are located at Tulane Medical Center on the downtown health sciences campus; at Tulane Multispecialty Clinic, 275 LaSalle St.; and at residency program offices at Tulane pediatrics (4th floor, School of Medicine) and internal medicine (1555 Poydras Ave., 8th floor). For more information, contact Sonia Malhotra.
⢠The Book Giving Tree is a Tulane student-run project dedicated to improving child literacy in New Orleans. Distribution of the books will culminate in early January with the Martin Luther King Week of Peace. Books will be collected at various locations, including the Student Organization Center in the basement of the Lavin-Bernick Center, through Jan. 17.
“This project promotes literacy and strives to get New Orleans grade-school children interested in reading,” says Amanda Krantz, project organizer. To participate, contact Krantz.
⢠During the holiday season, the Tulane Cancer Center's Patient Relief Fund steps up its yearlong efforts to raise money to assist cancer patients with financial help for transportation, meals, housing and prescriptions. For information contact Keadren Green at 504-988-6064.
⢠Tulane Empowers, launched in fall 2010, will help Tulane build partnerships, fight disease, train leaders, build homes, improve services and facilitate the exchange of ideas.
