5 opportunities to serve through giving this holiday season

Salve Regina’s community understands that this upcoming holiday season and the end of 2020 is already so much harder due to the strain of a worldwide pandemic. With this in mind, giving is even more important than ever before to help ensure that the University’s Mercy mission is being fulfilled in a world that is desperately needing it during this crisis.

The students at Salve Regina, as well as the faculty and staff, know how important it is to serve by generously giving in the ways each person can. “I serve because it’s a part of who I am,” said Isabelle Cole ’24, a social work major. “I serve because service has changed my life, and I’m committed to doing the work for the rest of my life. Service is joy.”

With an attitude of serving through giving, here is a round up of five ways that anyone at Salve Regina can give back during this unprecedented time of a global pandemic during the upcoming holiday season.

1. United Way campaign

The United Way campaign ends on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Regional Catholic colleges and universities have a longstanding tradition of supporting the United Way through employee giving campaigns, and Salve Regina is no exception. Employees who are interested in contributing to the United Way campaign can read this SALVEtoday article for more details.

2. Donate to Salve Regina on GivingTuesday

On Tuesday, Dec. 1, people across the globe participate in GivingTuesday in order to balance out events like Black Friday. GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity⁠⁠ — to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected and heal. The Salve Regina community can be a part of the #HeartofSalve by making a gift to Salve Regina by Dec. 1 using this link.

3. Clothing drive for Clothes for Kids RI

Salve Regina’s Sigma Theta Tau (STT) students are hosting a clothing drive to support Clothes to Kids RI until Friday, Dec. 11. STT is requesting pre-packaged shirts, underwear and socks for children ages 5 to 21. The clothes must be new and pre-packaged due to COVID-19 safety precautions, and the donation box is located by the stairs in the O’Hare Academic Building. For more information, read this SALVEtoday article.

4. Angel Tree drive

Whether going remote or not, it isn’t too late to participate in the annual Angel Tree drive that is happening through the Center for Community Engagement and Service to help give a meaningful Christmas to families in need. Items will be due Tuesday, Dec. 15, before noon. As is to be expected, there are going to be many different ways to help donate items for the Angel Trees because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read this SALVEtoday article for more details.

5. Give a Mask, Get a Mask campaign

There are still masks available to purchase through the Give a Mask, Get a Mask campaign put on by The Office of Advancement. When a donor buys one mask for themselves, a free mask will be donated to a Salve Regina student. The proceeds of this campaign go directly to the Mercy Emergency Relief Fund, which has become a critical source of funding to bridge the financial gap that many of Salve Regina’s undergraduate students are currently facing. Read this SALVEtoday article for more information.

While there are many more opportunities across campus than are listed here, hopefully this list can be an inspiration for the University’s community to give back in whatever way each person feels called.

Featured photo by Getty Images/photoguns