Under the Arch

SOCIAL WORK CLUB CHRISTMAS DINNER CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF SERVICE

The Gannon University Social Work Club Christmas Dinner and Wellness Fair has grown and changed considerably in the 29 years it has helped make the holiday season a little more cheerful.

Some aspects of the event have remained constant, however: the notion of service to one’s neighbor, and of giving less fortunate area residents something to celebrate.

The Dinner and Wellness Fair provide a full turkey dinner, Christmas presents, and clothing. In addition, representatives from local agencies and organizations will be on hand to provide attendees information on housing and human services as well as important health screenings.

The dinner, the 30^th annual, will be held in the university’s Hammermill Center, Peach Street and South Park Row, on Sunday, Dec. 2. Doors will open at 10 a.m., and meals will be served starting at 11:15 a.m. Santa will arrive at 12:15 p.m. to meet with the children on hand and pass out gifts.

Throughout the years, the event steadily has grown. Last year, for example, organizers served nearly 800 meals.

With hundreds of people attending, the need for a helping hand also has grown significantly, and in turn, the dinner truly has become a university-wide effort. This year, nearly 500 volunteers, including about 300 Gannon students, will help the university’s Social Work Club with the many important aspects of the dinner, including sorting donations of clothing, setting up tables and chairs, preparing and serving meals, and wrapping presents. The university’s Student Government Association (SGA) helps fund the event.

In addition, the dinner has been well supported by the local community. Gifts for Kids and Erie Insurance are among the event’s many contributors.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Social Work program at 871-7263.

RECENT NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS

News of interest on and around campus...

Student presentations: The Gannon Community is invited to attend a group presentation of the Professional Portfolios of the advanced students in the Community Counseling Program. Students in the GCOU 690 Seminar in Counseling will present their Professional Counseling Portfolios, which demonstrate their competencies and development as professional counselors-in-training. The presentations will be given from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27 in 2224 Palumbo. Please come and see the competencies and training outcomes of the Community Counseling Program as evidenced in the students’ portfolios. The students have worked very hard over the last several years and this is an opportunity to demonstrate their accomplishments.
Be a Christmas Angel: The Christmas Angel program is designed to help those who are struggling to make better lives for themselves and their families. Last year, the program provided gifts for nearly 60 children. Your generosity to this program can make a great difference to the Gannon Community during the Holiday season. If you would like to purchase a gift for a child or make a donation to the program, contact Linda Loader at ext. 5618.
Pie for All is back: This annual event, sponsored by the Social Work Club, will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20 in the Waldron Center. Slices of pie can be purchased for $1 a slice or $10 for an entire pie. All money raised from the event will support the 30th annual Social Work Club Christmas Dinner and Wellness Fair, which will be held Sunday, Dec. 2. Donations of pies are needed. For more information, contact the Social Work program office at ext. 7263.

CAMPUS EVENTS

Tuesday, November 20 – Pie for All: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Waldron. Benefits the Social Work Club Christmas Dinner.
Thursday, November 29 – Graduate and Adult Open House: Scheduled for 3:30-6 p.m. in the third floor lobby area of the Palumbo Center. The application fee will be waived for all attendees.
Thursday-Sunday, November 29-December 2 – Schuster Theatre: The Theatre will present “Nine.” Book by Arthur Kopit; music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. Fellini’s classic film “8½” is transformed into this marvelous, Tony Award-winning musical which looks at a 1950s film director and actor who can’t seem to shed his impulsive, philandering ways, and the devoted, beautiful women who together help him “grow up.” Additional performances are scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, December 6-8. All shows will begin at 8 p.m. except for the Sunday, Dec. 2 matinee, which will begin at 3 p.m.
Friday, November 30 – Gannon University’s Erie Chamber Orchestra: This performance will be the annual Christmas Concert Sing Along with the St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral’s Children’s Choir and choral director Sharon Downey. The concert will be offered at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Church, 130 East Fourth Street.
Saturday, December 1 – Jingle Mingle: The Gannon Christmas Party will be held at Rainbow Gardens. The reception will run from 6-7 p.m. and the dinner will begin at 7 p.m. The dance, with music by DJs John Gallagher and Russ Illig, is scheduled for 8:30-11 p.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. In lieu of canned goods, monetary donations can be made to the United Way.
“Our Events” is intended to serve as a random sample of campus events. For a more complete listing, refer to Eventcal.

THE PRESIDENT’S SCHEDULE

Monday, November 19 – Sixth annual Faculty Scholarship Recognition Reception. Tuesday, November 20 – Gathering in Praise (Pie for All). Friday-Saturday, November 23-24 – Gannon men’s basketball: Gary Miller Classic.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Please remember all in your prayers as regretfully we announce the deaths of:

Gerald K. Shrum, brother of Nancy Kelly, secretary, education program.

CURRENT BIRTHDAYS

John Lyons. Laurie Curlett. Mary Karg. Rev. Jason Glover. Shaun Curtiss. Daniel Tingley. Alan Swigonski. Lynne Oberle. Carmen Toscano. Michael Walmsley. Arthur Gamble, Jr. Paul Peterson. Corey Ferraro. Michelle Zimmerman. Cat Oakley. Sharon Thompson. Susan Black-Keim. Jeffrey Bloodworth. Parris Baker. Thomas Stolarski. Jennifer Pearson. Julie Iacobucci. Valerie Bacik. Cheryl Guy. Arlene Montevecchio. Geoffrey Dietz. Cynthia Fiske. Judith Quinlan. Sandra Trocki. Crystal Baldwin. Sheryl Tyzinski. Patrick O'Connell. Rick Prokop. Patricia Schlosser. Ralph Griffin III. Kathleen Hayes. J. Thomas Simmons. Daniel Morales. Paul Foust.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

Can you spare some change?: Gannon student Colleen Corrigan collects a donation from fellow student Jonathan Vertosick in last Thursday’s Box City in A.J.’s Way. The Box City was one event from the annual observance of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Money raised from the Box City, and other events held last week, will be donated to four local organizations: Erie City Mission, Community of Caring, Community Shelter Services, and Second Harvest Food Bank. Thanks to all who helped with the various events.