The machine shop and drafting groups launched a competition between themselves to see who could bring in the most donations. We had to borrow the cargo van from the college for one delivery, and the next day we had a Tahoe full!”Lisa Smith, Wallace State
HANCEVILLE – ‘Tis the season to be jolly, but it is also a time to do for others. Wallace State Community College (WSCC) took that to heart. This year, for the first time, the college acted as a drop-off point for the A Million Thanks program, which sends letters, notes and cards to active-duty military. WSCC was the only drop-off site in the state. During the drive, more than 2,600 pieces of correspondence were collected.
“We had a good turnout,” said Lisa Smith, director of special populations at WSCC. “As word gets out about the program, I think that number will be even greater next year.”
Not only did the faculty, staff and students provide cards and letters, but the college also received some from the community as well as schools from the Cullman County area and beyond.
“We got some from an elementary school in Fort Payne, a company in Georgia and a senior citizen center in Bessemer,” Smith said. “The out-of-town contributors found Wallace State on the A Million Thanks website as their closest location to drop off their cards and letters to soldiers.”
Smith said the college would act as a drop-off site again next year. The collection process usually ends around Nov. 20 to allow time for the cards to be delivered overseas.
In addition to A Million Thanks, WSCC collected goods for local charities.
“The college also participated in the Dec. 1 Day of Giving by collecting toys, books, food and other supplies for a few local charities. Two large deliveries of food were distributed to the Cullman Caring for Kids Food Bank, as well as toy and book donations to Operation Christmas Child,” Smith said.
“The machine shop and drafting groups launched a competition between themselves to see who could bring in the most donations,” Smith added. “We had to borrow the cargo van from the college for one delivery, and the next day we had a Tahoe full!”
The Academic Department gathered items for the animal shelter and the Health Science and Student Services divisions collected toiletry items for Hope House in Blount County. The college was able to deliver seven cases of toiletries to Hope House, where Brother Bud Jones accepted them.
Hope House operates a homeless shelter, thrift store and also provides substance abuse rehabilitation programs. Jones told the college representatives Hope House was in need of toothpaste, so tubes of toothpaste made up more than a case of the college’s donations.
“God had answered the prayers for Blount County children,” Jones told them.
“We are very thankful and appreciative of all of the donations and support,” Smith said of everyone who donated to the college’s charitable projects this holiday season.
For more information about WSCC, visit www.wallacestate.edu or call 256-352-8000 or 866-350-9722. For more on the A Million Thanks program visit www.amillionthanks.org.
