Arnold School of Public Health - Holiday Adopt-a-Family

The Arnold School of Public Health Dean’s Student Advisory Council and the Dean’s Office are asking for your help in adopting a family in need this holiday season.

We are working with the GoodBodies program in the Exercise Science department to adopt a family of 8.  GoodBodies is a weight management program for children and teens that focuses on lifestyle changes.  The goal is to educate and encourage daily physical activity and healthy eating practice in participants. Our adopted family participates in the GoodBodies program and recently lost everything in a house fire. While the family has recently found housing, they have little else.

This year we are asking for clothing items and special gifts for each member.  We are also accepting monetary donations for gift cards for the entire family. In addition, any gently used items such as clothes, dishes, other kitchen items, and electronics are being accepted.  Please see the attached list of requested items for clothing sizes.  We are unsure of furniture needs.  If you have used furniture you are willing to donate, please contact the Office of Student Services so we may check with the family about their needs.

This family has lost everything and is in desperate need of our help; please do what you can to help this part of our extended USC Arnold School of Public Health family. This year especially, no donation is too small to help in our effects to give this family a happy holiday season.

Attached you will find a list of items suggested for the family.  If you would like to make a donation, please visit the Office of Student Services (HESC 112) to choose an item to give.  As in previous years, we will have a “tree” with ornaments.  The tree should be ready by Wednesday afternoon and will be on the wall outside of the office.  Please remove the ornament from the tree and also write your name next to the corresponding family member/gift on the spreadsheet next to the tree.  Those donating gently used clothing do not require any sign up. Gift wrapping of newly purchased gifts would be greatly appreciated; please DO NOT wrap gently used items. All donations will be accepted at the Office of Student Services (HESC 112).

If you purchase a gift before getting an ornament off the tree, please stop by the office and remove the ornament off of the tree so we can keep track of the items needed.  If you are unable to make it to campus, please call the Office of Student Services at 803-777-5031 or email Christy Smith at cfsmith@sc.edu your name and the item(s) you purchased and we will remove the ornament and save it for when you bring in your gift.

HELPFUL REMINDERS

• In the event that your gifts of toys or clothing need to be exchanged by your adopted family, please be sure to ask cashiers for gift receipts at the time of purchase.  Please be sure to leave store tags (not price tags) on all merchandise that you purchase, and include gift receipts with your packages.

• Please attach a sticky note with your item description to all gifts. We need the ornament attached so we can make sure that all the required items are purchased for each family member and so we can label them properly. 

• You do not have to wrap the items; DSAC is willing to wrap the gifts before delivery.  However, pre-wrapped gifts and gift wrapping supplies would be appreciated.

• Please DO NOT wrap gently used items.

Please have all presents submitted to the Office of Student Services by Monday, December 13^th.  Gifts must have the ornament and sticky note attached so we know the item purchased and the person for which the gift was purchased.

If you have any questions, please contact your DSAC representative (list available here: http://www.sph.sc.edu/currentstudents/dsac.htm) or the Office of Student Services at 803-777-5031.

For continuing updates on the status of donations and other needs, please check the NEW DSAC blog: http://asphdeansstudentadvisory.blogspot.com/.