CSUB getting into spirit of giving season

Several departments on campus collecting donations for students, community

By California State University, Bakersfield

December 14^th, 2022

The `Runner community can get into the giving spirit this holiday season with several opportunities to donate.

Several departments at California State University, Bakersfield are currently collecting clothes, food and other items to support students and foster children in the community who are in need.

The Student Recreation Center (SRC) is holding its annual Giving Tree event in which individuals can grab an ornament from the Christmas tree in the lobby and purchase a gift for a local teen in foster care between the ages of 12 and 18.

There is a $30 limit per gift, which must be delivered to the SRC by Dec. 19 at noon. There are no restrictions on what kinds of gifts can be purchased. The gifts will be given to the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Kern County, after which advocates can pick them up and deliver them to the children.

“It is such a joyous time for our participants to be able to give back to the community by participating in an on-campus initiative,” said SRC Coordinator Lea Molina. “Even though we don’t get to see the children open their gifts, we feel their joy each year knowing that they will not have to go through a holiday season without a gift.”

CSUB will be providing holiday meals on Dec. 25 to 25 students who will be staying in the residence halls this Christmas. In addition, the students will receive gift baskets that will include CSUB gear such as sweatshirts as well as stockings filled with snacks and goodies.

Other items can be donated for the gift baskets and dropped off at the Associated Students Inc. (ASI) office in the Student Union by Dec. 19. The baskets will be put together on Dec. 20 and delivered to students over the holiday break.

“I am really honored to be a part of a team that supports our students during the holiday season,” said Basic Needs Director Dr. Jason Watkins.

Several departments and organizations — including the Dreamers Resource Center (DRC), Multicultural Alliance and Gender Equity Center (MAGEC), Sustainability and Energy as well as ASI — are also involved in a clothing drive that started on Monday and lasts through Feb. 10.

The drive is being held to support a Pop-Up Career Closet in March. New or gently worn business casual or professional clothing for all genders can be dropped off at one of several locations across campus, including DRC, MAGEC, the Student Recreation Center and the Student Union.

Items that can be donated include blazers, cardigans, buttoned-up shirts, blouses, pants and dresses. Items that won’t be accepted include shoes, jewelry, undergarments, handbags and wallets.

“As an undergraduate student at CSUB, I remember visiting a career closet off-campus and purchasing gently worn business pieces,” said DRC and MAGEC Coordinator Mariela Gomez. “As a first-generation student, I was not sure how to find clothing for professional environments or if I would be able to afford them. To this day, there are still blazers and slacks I have from that career closet, and they are some of my favorite pieces.”