By Leigh DuPuy

The three-year-old boy excitedly opening his "Bob the Builder" presents was a crowd favorite at the third Helping Hands annual toy drive held on December 12 at the Wheatley Student Lounge. Fittingly, the event was made an unprecedented success with the help of builders themselves.

Members of the Campus Center construction crew reached out to the 32 homeless and foster children, ages 3 to 15, by donating $565 to the annual holiday fund.

"We have never gotten anything like this before – it was completely unsolicited. Alan Bacon, a member of Carpenters Local 67, had read about the Helping Hands project in the Chancellor's Message to the Campus which was published in the Mass Media," explains Jain Ruvidich-Higgins, director of the Office of Service Learning and Community Outreach. "Bacon initiated the collection by approaching his foreman with the idea to circulate a hard hat around the construction site."

Those who donated included representatives from Suffolk Construction Company, K & J Interiors, Carpenters Local 67, Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc., Millis Plumbing Co., The Cheviot Corporation, Worcester Air, Sheetmetal Crafts Local 17, Thyssen Krupp Elevator, Valle Concrete Forms Corporation, and Elevators Operators 4.

"As we watch the new campus center rise as a result of all of your efforts, we will remember that this wonderful new structure that will mean so much to our university is not only made of steel and brick, but that it already has a heart," praised Chancellor Gora of the builders' efforts.

They weren't the only ones who generously gave donations and their time to the children served by the Hyde Park Office of the Department of Social Services. The Graduate Student Assembly donated $100 to the drive and the Balfour Scholars at the College of Management were integral to the event's success by donating presents and coordinating party details. Also, the Parking and Transportation Offices provided free passes to the foster parents that came to the Helping Hands party and the Students Arts and Events Council donated movie passes for participants.

The annual drive includes gift donations and cash donations to help purchase gifts, wrapping paper, and party supplies. The drive is a student-conceived project supported by the Office of Service-Learning and Community Outreach and Campus Ministry.

"The project was a great success," says Ruvidich-Higgins. "Faculty, staff, and students donated enough presents so each child could receive two."

The children made sure the Campus Center construction workers knew how much they appreciated their help, making a huge sign thanking those who donated, which was hung on the catwalk facing the site.

Image: Campus Center workers proudly display their check donation to the Helping Hand Annual Fund with Jain Ruvidich-Higgins and Alan Bacon (center) who helped coordinate their efforts. (Photo by Harry Brett)