PTK’s annual charity drive helps spread seasonal cheer
MCC’s Phi Theta Kappa, Pisa Beta members and student volunteers contributed their time and holiday cheer at the 5th Annual Holiday Charity Drive. The event took place on Nov. 19 in the Safeway Plaza on the corner of Power and McKellips.
Honesty Sundin, Phi Theta Kappa member, said, “We are volunteering today to collect toys and donations.”By the end of the afternoon there was 266 new toys, 189 food items and $340 donated.
Ed Lipinski, Red Mountain Psi Beta program adviser, said, “This has been our best holiday drive of the past five years.” An estimated 300 people were in attendance at the event.
The Mesa Fire Department, Southwest Ambulance and Mesa Fire Connectors helped to host the event. The toys were transported by the Mesa Fire Connectors to Mesa Fire Station 216.
The Mesa Fire Department’s Engine 216 and crew showcased their truck, but they were still on call to any emergency situations.
A Southwest Ambulance unit used the event as a chance to hand out kid-friendly first-aid information to promote safety and emergency knowledge.
Garret Hensley, a Southwest Ambulance EMT, said, “Ambulances are not scary places.” Stuffed animals, a TV, and a Nintendo 64 were all in the ambulance to emulate so.
As well as collecting donations, MCC volunteers promoted child safety and environmental issues.
Megan Wallace, Phi Theta Kappa member and secondary education major, assisted children in learning about fire safety with some help from Fire Safety Sparky.
Besides indulging in a bit of extra credit, Psychology 101 students Valerie Softley and Gaby Almanza volunteered to teach kids to create a bedroom escape plan in event of a fire.
Kiera DeSpain, Psi Beta member, and Beatty Dimit, Phi Theta Kappa and Environmental Action Club member, were promoting recycling.
After sporting some latex gloves, children could sift through the trash. “We have the kids tell us what is recyclable and what isn’t,” DeSpain said. Dimit was passing out items made from recycled materials. One item children could take home were a pair of shoelaces that said, “I used to be a soda bottle,” as a reminder of how recycled materials can be used.
Children could also participate in the stop, drop and roll station, face painting, and make stress-relief balls sponsored by the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.
Volume 44, Issue 7. Today is
Bylee Tucker sports a Mesa firefighter uniform at the 5th Annual Holiday Drive. Children were taught fire safety and stop, drop and roll.
Lee Kauftheil/Mesa Legend