Gift program grants holiday wishes for children

As the holidays are quickly approaching, many are busy shopping for friends and loved ones. \nThis year, the Volunteer Students Bureau is encouraging students to take the time to pick up an extra gift for a needy child from Bloomington and donate it to the Children's Wish Program.\nThe Children's Wish Program is annually sponsored by the VSB, Sigma Chi, Golden Key and Phi Beta Sigma. \nThe program aims to motivate people to "adopt" disadvantaged children by buying them gifts between the prices of $15 to $30 per child.\n"The Children's Holiday Wish Program works to bring Indiana University together with the Bloomington community," said senior Amanda Todd, coordinator of the program this year. "IU students and faculty 'adopt' the neediest children from the Bloomington community, and this year we have over 300 children in need."\nThe program benefits agencies that were selected by the Volunteer Student's Bureau or that had contacted the bureau themselves, said Phil Shelton, junior and co-chair from Sigma Chi. \nShelton said the program's goal is to make this holiday season brighter for the needy children in Bloomington by providing clothing and other gifts.\n"This program benefits children from IU Apartment Housing, Boys & Girls Club, Mujeres in Conexion, Shalom Family Resource Center, Middle Way, and Child Protective Services of Monroe County," Shelton said. \nTodd said people should become involved in the program because it is the season of giving.\n"The holiday season is about sharing and helping others," Todd said. "Children's Holiday Wish Program is a wonderful way to give back to your community because it helps so many children that are so close to home."\nTodd and Shelton both remain active in the program because it makes them feel like they have accomplished something when they see the children receiving the gifts with huge smiles on their faces.\n"I enjoy reaching out to the community and making a difference," Todd said. "It is amazing to see everyone come together on one project. When people begin bringing in the gifts and donations to our office, it is unbelievable. The floor is completely covered, and we even have to store some across the hall in the Student Activities Office. To physically see how much you are helping others and to know how happy you are making the children is what makes it all worth it."\nShelton said that the response to the program is usually very large.\n"Fraternities and sororities are usually our main contributors, but many students participate independently," Shelton said.\nJoe Stebbins, executive director of Bloomington's Boys and Girls Club, said there are a lot of children out there who need a little extra help this season. There are certain kids picked out and designated to receive gifts.\n"The goal is to help kids and make sure that they have everything they need to succeed," Stebbins said. "It is important for them to know that there are people out there that care about them enough to help them."\nTodd said students interested in "adopting" a child should contact the Volunteer Student's Bureau at vsb@indiana.edu by Dec. 7.\n"Anyone can participate in this event," Todd said. "The idea is to bring everyone together to help others in our community."\n-- Contact staff writer Dana Sands at dsands@indiana.edu.