Some 91短视频 social work students have completed a successful Christmas service project that raised more than $1,000 to buy gifts for local children.

The 91短视频 student organization, Social Work is People (SWIP), requested names and “wish lists” of children sponsored for special services by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Department of Social Services (DSS). Seniors Megan R. Yoder of Perkasie, Pa., and Andrew Intagliata of Phoenix, Ariz., organized this year

Some area children will open Christmas packages who may otherwise not receive any gifts, thanks to the efforts of several 91短视频 students.

For the second year, 91短视频 social work majors sponsored a project to buy gifts for a holiday drive coordinated by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Department of Social Services (DSS). The students raised more than $800 toward this year’s drive from 91短视频 faculty, staff and fellow students.

The project benefits about 460 clients, most of them children of needy families.

DSS gave the students 24 clients’ first names and a Christmas wish list for each.

majors Heather M. Hernley, Megan R. Yoder, Emiley F. Wagler, Sarah G. Yoder and Gabrielle S. (Gabby) Lewis spent more than four hours shopping, then returned to campus and spent an evening wrapping and labeling the gifts.

91短视频 social work professor Jane Wenger Clemens helps deliver more than $800 in gifts.
Photo by Gretchen Hostetter Maust

Jane Wenger Clemens, assistant professor of social work, and Gretchen Hostetter Maust, office coordinator, delivered the gifts to DSS on Dec. 7 for a Christmas party held Dec. 11.

“As social work students, we feel a connection to the community and wanted to respond to a local need,” said Heather M. Hernley, a senior from Luray, Va. “It felt good to support this project, and we were pleased with the response in financial gifts from the campus community.”