Spirit of the holiday season abounds at NMCC

    PRESQUE ISLE – ‘Tis the season for giving and caring, and students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Northern Maine Community College are getting into the holiday spirit through a number of projects designed to give back to the Aroostook County community.     After turning to the community for assistance in its annual children’s book drive, campus volunteers collected and distributed a record 6,000 books to youth lined along both sides of Main Street during the annual Holiday Light Parade held Saturday, Dec. 5 in downtown Presque Isle. On the heels of that largest-ever distribution of free children’s books since the college first began the annual tradition six years ago, several student organizations are in the midst of giving projects to benefit several community groups and causes.
    An 8-foot tall giving tree has been erected by the Student Nurses Association in the Christie building lobby, which serves as the main entrance at the college. Placed on the tree are numerous ornament tags with the ages, genders and gift preferences of area children.
    “We are coordinating this project to help families within our campus community that are facing difficulties this holiday season,” said Ashlei Look, a second-year NMCC nursing student and president of the SNA. “Students and others on campus have been picking up ornaments and are purchasing gifts for the children. We will be collecting them before the end of the semester and getting them to the families before Christmas.”
    A collection of another kind is under way by members of the NMCC chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society – this one designed to collect winter clothing and coats for the less fortunate. Large wrapped boxes have been placed in key locations on campus for students, faculty, staff and community members to drop off new or used winter gear. The items collected will be delivered to the Sister Mary O’Donnell Homeless Shelter prior to the holidays.
    Phi Theta Kappa is also collecting monetary donations for the Battered Women’s Project in Aroostook County. A donation jar has been set up in the campus bookstore and proceeds will be given to the non-profit organization at the end of the semester.
    In addition, the NMCC Student Senate sponsored a three-man basketball tournament Dec. 12. Proceeds from the $50 entry fee and donations collected at the event were donated to the Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross.