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Families in need get holiday cheer

High Point Enterprise - 12/16/2018

Dec. 15--HIGH POINT -- Lots of businesses and organizations collect toys and clothing for children this time of year, but one group makes sure to take care of mothers, too.

The faculty, staff and graduate students at High Point University'sQubein School of Communication provided Christmas for six local families through Family Service of the Piedmont and Family Services of Davidson County.

They brought their donations together and celebrated another year of the program, called Operation Elf, at a pizza party this week.

The families HPU adopted are impacted by domestic violence, and they are largely single moms with kids.

"To know that somebody out there, potentially in one of the worst times of their lives, that person knows people out there are thinking about them and want to help them have a good day, that really is awesome," said Virginia McDermott, interim dean of the School of Communication and organizer of Operation Elf.

She said she and her coworkers believed it was important to include gifts for the parent, too.

It's always a struggle to get mothers to ask for their own needs and wants, she said.

"I kid you not, every year we have to go back three times [and say], 'Please give us a list, and it's OK if a kid asks for something special," McDermott said. "It just doesn't have to be socks and a shirt. We want them to have the Christmas they should have."

Despite their encouragement to ask for anything, the families often ask for clothes and other basics because they need them.

Many of the moms' lists included things like shampoo and conditioner, cleaning supplies and linens.

One of this year's families is a single mother with five kids, said Kristy Shoffner, healthy start program manager at Family Services of the Piedmont. The mother is working to rebuild their life after escaping a domestic violence situation.

Shoffner said it's unusual for a group to provide gifts for parents as well as little ones.

"When we were contacted by HPU, they wanted to include the parent, which I think is wonderful," she said.

Shoffner said the adopted families are struggling, so having the weight of buying Christmas presents lifted is a big deal.

"They're living in transition," she said. "They're not really certain what their living situation is going to be. They're not certain financially."

While Operation Elf's main purpose is to help families in need, it also helps those who donate.

Erin Andy, a graduate student studying strategic communication, said shopping for the families was a stress reliever during a busy time of year.

"I was just presenting my thesis and writing a 50-page document," she said. "It was great to go out and not worry about buying myself anything, focus on other people and giving and get myself in the holiday spirit."

Andy bought a bucket full of cleaning supplies for one of the moms.

Stefan Hall, chair of the department of communication, eschewed the practical to bring a little fun to the families.

"I'm of the opinion, because I teach game design, that everyone needs toys," he said. "You're never too old to get toys."

There were plenty of both types of gifts at Wednesday's collection event, where the donors sorted their items by family. There were dolls and laundry detergent, scooters and sneakers, all ready to be put under the Christmas tree.

The faculty, staff and students at the School of Communication will never meet the people who receive their gifts, and the families won't know where the gifts came from.

Still, McDermott hopes the struggling families realize the community cares about them and wants them to succeed.

"Individually, we can do a lot of good," she said. "Collectively, we can make an enormous difference for people."

hwest@hpenews.com -- 336-888-3617 -- @hollyrwest

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(c)2018 The High Point Enterprise (High Point, N.C.)

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