The Sandspur

Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: Features

Media Credit: ROLLINS.EDU CHRISTMAS 2002: Christmas Funfest always draws a large crowd of participants.

Media Credit: ROLLINS.EDU MAKING CRAFTS: Many Rollins organizations host craft tables where they can interact with the children.

Media Credit: ROLLINS.EDU HAPPY TIMES: Children really enjoy interacting with the students from Rollins.

This year, the Office of Community Engagement is sponsoring their fourth annual Holiday Funfest. This well-attended and much celebrated event will be held at the Cornell Campus Center on Wednesday, December 8, from 4pm-7pm.

This "holiday" is held to benefit local children's organizations, and it celebrates all of the major holidays that occur during this time of year, including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the Three Kings Holiday.

According to the Community Engagement's website, they host this event for five main reasons:

1. To build a more compassionate community

2. To increase collaboration both on and off campus

3. To model the importance of community service and engagement

4. To build positive relationships both on and off campus

5. To celebrate the altruistic nature of the human spirit

The day encompasses a gift giving program, activity booths, and a buddy for a day program.

The first, gift giving, is where children are given gifts from people in the Rollins community. The maximum gift price is forty dollars, so that all children can receive an equitable gift (so there won't be any squabbles over who got the better gift!). The gifts are generally books, toys, and school or art supplies, according to the Office of Community Engagement.

The second event, activity booths, will take place during the afternoon. Many organizations, including, Greek organizations, sports teams, the Black Student Union, the Native American Cultural Alliance, Hillel, and the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship are all hosting activity booths. The Crosby Cornell Scholars, also, are hosting a "Polaroids with Santa" booth, and SGA is making ornaments with the children.

Other popular activity booths include: face painting, cookie decorating, craft making, fortune telling, necklace and bracelet making, and story-telling.

Finally, the buddy for a day is an extremely worthwhile project where children spend all three hours with a mentor.

If you would like more information, call the office at 407-646-6406.

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