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Help when life gets tough

Support Concordia's Student Emergency and Food Fund during the week of December 6 by purchasing ribbons to decorate the holiday tree
November 18, 2010
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By Shelagh Peden


In December 2009, the Dean of Students Office and Multi-faith Chaplaincy invited the Concordia community to join them for Holidays around the World, an event at the Loyola Chapel.
In December 2009, the Dean of Students Office and Multi-faith Chaplaincy invited the Concordia community to join them for Holidays around the World, an event at the Loyola Chapel.

A little help can sometimes go a long way – especially before the holidays. The Student Emergency and Food Fund, run by the Multi-faith Chaplaincy, can help Concordians in need.

The service exists for students who just can’t make ends meet. For some, the combined cost of tuition, books, supplies and rent can be overwhelming.

Because everyone needs to study, exercise and sleep, some students can’t find enough time for part-time jobs. Other are simply unable to find employment, while some can’t buy groceries to eat or to feed their families.

Enter the Multi-faith Chaplaincy, which distributes gift cards from a national grocery chain after it evaluates individual needs. Since January 2010, some 533 students have requested support and over $34,500 has been distributed. Average disbursements are $64.

The primary source of funding is the annual Feed the Fund Drive, held at the Sir George Williams and Loyola campuses, just before the holiday break.

Ellie Hummel, Chaplain and Coordinator, explains: “This fund could not exist without the generosity of the Concordia community. Society is measured by the way it treats its most vulnerable. If we measure the Concordia community by that standard, we are actually doing quite well.”

Hummel firmly believes any contribution – big or small – goes a long way. If each of Concordia’s 45,126 students gave only five cents, it would still result in a windfall for the Fund. “Students who need the Fund most are sacrificing everything for their education. I strongly believe that by supporting them, we build a stronger university and a more compassionate society.”

How Concordians can help
During the week of December 6, the annual Tie-a-Ribbon-on-the-Tree will see ribbons sold for donations of $1 or more to decorate the holiday tree in the J.W. McConnell Building Atrium (1400 De Maisonneuve Blvd.W.).

Those unable to buy a ribbon are encouraged to give time by spending an hour at the tree selling ribbons. Interested? Please contact Tracey Fisher, 514-848-2424, ext. 3593 or tracey.fisher@concordia.ca

Other successful events to support the drive include Carolers for a Cause, which raised $2,000 last year. The Bookstores and Computer Store contributed close to $4,000 by selling re-usable shopping bags and the Annual Concordia Used Book Fair raised $4,713 for the fund in October.

The community is also encouraged to collect donations at holiday events, hold a bake sale, or give a few dollars.

Related links:
•    Multi-faith Chaplaincy
•    Multi-faith Chaplaincy on Facebook
•    Carolers for a Cause, Concordia Journal story
•    Bookstore re-usable bag program
•    Used book fair results story on NOW
 



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