Festive season underway

‘Tis the season to be festive and generous.

A number of Concordia events this month support local causes as well as some that benefit Concordia, highlighted below.

Each year, as part of the Feed the Fund Campaign, Multi-faith Chaplaincy sells handmade ribbons to decorate the holiday tree in the atrium of the J.W. McConnell Library Building. In exchange for a donation of a dollar or two, people can decorate the tree from noon to 2 p.m. on the following days:

• Wednesday to Friday, December 7, 8 and 9
• Monday to Wednesday, December 12 to 14

The monies raised go to the chaplaincy’s Student Emergency and Food Fund that supports students, who find themselves in financial difficulty, by providing food vouchers and other support.

Also benefiting the Feed the Fund Campaign are the Carolers for a Cause, who will bring holiday cheer in the form of songs and carols. The talented singers will perform in the lobbies of major buildings on campus, including the Holidays Around the World event held December 6 at Loyola Campus. They are Roberto Chen-Rangel, Cynthia Hedrich, Katherine Hedrich, Lorraine Toscano, Danielle Pullen and Adrienne Willott.

The carollers have raised $10,000 in their first 10 years of singing for a cause and they hope to do equally well for the next 10. There’s still time to hear their sweet melodies from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. this week and next Monday.

When: Thursday, December 8
Where: Atrium of the John Molson School of Business Building (1450 Guy St.)

When: Friday, December 9
Where: Atrium of the J.W. McConnell Library Building (1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.)

When: Monday, December 12
Where: Harriet and Abe Gold Atrium of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (1515 Ste-Catherine St. W.)

The Libraries will hold its 22nd annual Christmas Auction on Friday, December 9, from 12 noon to 2 p.m., in the J.A. DeSève Cinema (Room LB-125, J.W. McConnell Library Building). The cost of admission is the purchase of a $2 raffle ticket.

This event is replete with goodies: there are items to be auctioned off, raffle prizes and door prizes! It’s unlikely anyone will leave empty-handed.

All proceeds will benefit causes both at Concordia and further afield: Multi-faith Chaplaincy, Financial Aid and Awards, Auberge Madeleine, Can Serve Foundation, Chez Doris, CODE (Canadian Organization for Development through Education), Dans la Rue, The Gazette Christmas Fund, Operation Eyesight Universal, OXFAM, Sun Youth, and the Women’s Centre of Montreal.

Be sure to check out the catalogue of items up for auction on the event website. 

Skate with the Stingers, Buzz and even Santa Claus at the annual Stingers Skating Party this Saturday. The fun is open to everyone — friends, kids and neighbours. Kick off the season with hot chocolate, cookies, candy canes and face painting.

The Stingers men's and women's hockey teams will be on hand to skate and visit, and donations of non-perishable food items will be accepted at the door.

When: Saturday, December 10 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Ed Meagher Arena, Loyola Campus, 7200 Sherbrooke St. W. (Parking behind the arena is free of charge on this occasion.)

Please bring your own skates and helmets. For information, contact Catherine Grace at 514-848-2424, ext. 3862.   

The Campus Retail Stores are in on the action. They’ve chosen to support the Montreal Children’s Hospital with a gift-wrapping fundraiser, organized by the hospital’s auxiliary.

“Not only can the Concordia community take advantage of great deals in our stores but purchases can also be gift-wrapped on the premises while helping support a worthwhile cause”  said Daniel Houde, director of the Campus Retail Stores.

The Montreal Children's Hospital Auxiliary began more than 67 years ago when a group of women decided to raise funds for a refrigerator needed in one of the hospital’s units. Today, an equally dedicated group of men and women volunteer their time and talents to raising more than $250,000 annually for the hospital. The funds are used for services and equipment that contribute to improving the care of young patients.

Concordia students and staff are volunteering their time during these four days. Come visit and have gifts wrapped in support of a great cause.

When:  From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, December 8, 9, 15 and 16.
Where: Lower (metro) level of the J.W. McConnell Library Building (1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.) in front of the Bookstore.

The Montreal Children’s Hospital Child Life Services is the beneficiary of the annual toy drive by the John Molson School of Business and Concordia’s Department of Human Resources. This year, the goal is to surpass last year’s results by collecting more than 600 new toys.

Unwrapped toys will be collected until Friday, December 16, when our “angels of distribution services” will deliver them to the hospital. Toys must be sorted first by hospital staff, before being wrapped, and toys of a violent nature will not be accepted, nor will used toys.

• Toys may be dropped off in the following locations:
• Room MB 12.117 or MB 4.204, John Molson School of Business Building, 1450 Guy St.
• Human Resources Department, Room FB-1130, Faubourg Tower (1250 Guy St.)
• Department of English, Room LB-641, J.W. McConnell Library Building. Contact Bonnie-Jean Campbell, 514-848-2424, 2344.
• Centre for Research in Human Development, Room PY-170, Loyola Campus (7141 Sherbrooke St. W.). Contact Donna Craven, 514-848-2424, ext. 8640.

For more information, contact the organizers at:
Eva at eferrara@jmsb.concordia.ca
Mona at Ramona@jmsb.concordia.ca
Jay at Jay.mazzamauro@concordia.ca

The Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering is collecting non-perishable food items for distribution by Sun Youth, who gives food hampers to approximately 18,000 people throughout the year, especially around the holidays. With each passing year, the need for food assistance continues to grow.

Bring non-perishables to the reception area of Room EV-3.139 in the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (1515 Ste-Catherine St. W.), anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. until Friday, December 16.

Concordia’s Advancement and Alumni Relations Office is also collecting non-perishable goods for Sun Youth. Those who want to contribute can drop off their goods at the reception in Room FB-520 of the Faubourg Tower (1250 Guy St.) during business hours by the end of day on Friday, December 9.

Closer to home, the Concordia University Student Parents Centre (CUSP) is committed to supporting our students who have the additional responsibility of raising children. CUSP seeks clean and usable children’s equipment (car seat, high chair, stroller, etc.), clothing for children aged 0 to 12, toys, CDs, DVDs, books, and any adult clothing bought within the last seven years, especially winter clothing.

For larger donations, such as kitchen equipment, furniture and appliances, please contact them in advance. CUSP can be reached by phone at 514-848-2431, in person at 1410 Guy, suite 24, or by email at cusp@alcor.concordia.ca. The centre is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Related links:
•    Multi-faith Chaplaincy
•    Carolers for a Cause 
•    Auction Site - Libraries 
•    Bookstore
•    Montreal Children’s Hospital
•    Montreal Children’s Hospital - Child Life Services 
•    Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
•    Sun Youth
•    Advancement and Alumni Relations
•    CUSP