News Releases

Holiday season inspires School of Business initiatives for sharing

Thursday, November 12, 2009

BY WAYNE LARSON

"You read a lot about food pantries' shelves being empty because of tough financial times, and that makes me want to do something about it," said School of Business Lecturer Lisa Bergeron.

The School of Business has been and still is working hard during the holiday season to fill food pantry shelves for the upcoming months. School of Business student organizations, academic areas and classes are collecting food and other items to donate to local food pantries and charity organizations in Lawrence, Kan.

The School's faculty and staff departments are collecting canned food, household goods and money for the Salvation Army during November and December. The group's goal is to donate 750 items.

The student chapter of the national and professional organization for financial information professionals, Beta Alpha Psi, conducted a competition between groups in the School, to see who could collect the most canned food items. Groups received extra points for donating high-need items like peanut butter.

Lecturers Joyce Claterbos and Bergeron collected food items in their Business Minor courses. "I estimate we received 450 to 500 cans of food in my marketing class," said Claterbos. Both lecturers awarded students extra credit for bringing in food items. Bergeron estimated she received almost 1000 items from her finance class.

"The students know it's for a good cause and they love the extra credit," said Bergeron. Claterbos also concurred her class was more than happy to donate to people in need. The food items collected in their classes in early November were donated to a local food pantry.

"Blankets for Beds" is another program the School's faculty, staff and students are participating in this winter. The goal is to collect blankets, towels and sheets to give to the Lawrence Humane Society for use as bedding for the animals.

Initiatives like these display how much those at the School of Business care about the community. That caring trait can be seen among the staff members who operate the School, the teachers who instruct at the School and the students who attend the School. "It is very comforting to know our students really care," said Bergeron. That same feeling is on display throughout the entire School of Business this holiday season.