Campus organizations are working to make charity giving a lot more convenient for students through a collection of goods for the needy.
From Aug. 27 to Sept. 12, OU organizations and departments will gather goods for non-profits and charities in the Norman community during the Day of Caring Drive. The Office of Leadership and Volunteerism sponsors the drive, which is OU’s way of participating in The United Way’s Day of Caring, according to Ashley Sullivan, volunteer coordinator in the Office of Leadership Development and Volunteerism.
“It’s kind of like the City of Norman’s Big Event,” Sullivan said. “We ask departments and organizations on campus to help, and they spend two weeks gathering specific items.”
The Office of Leadership Development and Volunteerism annually reaches out to local charitable organizations to ask for a wish list of items that are needed to operate during the coming year, Sullivan said. Requested items include everything from copy paper and toilet paper to diapers and dog food. Sullivan said that this is what makes the drive unique: the majority of the donations are tangible.
“They’re things that are not necessarily cheap, easy to buy products for these organizations, and I think that’s what makes it so cool,” Sullivan said. “People can be like ‘Oh, I can buy dog food or diapers and actually see the difference I’m making.’”
About 30 diverse campus groups have already registered. They range from the President’s Office and OU IT to Mu Alpha Theta and nine Panhellenic sororities.
Biology senior Shelby Breit is the VP Panhellenic of Delta Gamma. The sorority will be collecting various sizes of t-shirts, sweatshirts and shorts to benefit Crossroad Youth and Family Services during the drive. Breit said that she sees the importance and ease of this event.
“It just takes one simple moment to drop an item in a box, and that simple moment could change someone’s life,” Breit said.
Public relations senior Kylie Frisby is the president of Alpha Gamma Delta. The sorority experienced the support of the Norman community firsthand when their house burned down last year. Frisby said that it was really important for them to pay back the community for its support.
“A lot of people stepped up to help us, so we definitely want to help in any way we can with the community that did so much for us,” Frisby said.
When the sorority’s house burned, they were forced to relocate to Cate Center during reconstruction. Frisby said that she hopes residents of Cate Center will also help collect various school supplies and toiletries when they see their donation box in the residence hall.
Sullivan said that she hopes the Day of Caring Drive will encourage students to feel good about sacrificing a few of their dollars and time for a good cause.
“We’re all focused on new classes and responsibilities, but it’s a good way to stop and think about the Norman community,” Sullivan said. “We tend to get stuck in the OU bubble and it’s great to say ‘thank you.’”
The drive will continue until September 12, and there is still room for more organizations to get involved. To register an organization, contact Ashley Sullivan at asullivan@ou.edu.
