By Lisa Johnson
BYU students played the role of Santa?s elves, creating what will soon become Christmas gifts for children in Utah.
The Graduate Student Association hosted their first Christmas Workshop service project Wednesday, allowing students to cut the fabric for school bags, teddy bears and pajamas.
?Students can just come and help cut out patterns and help us make some things that will be given to help children in the community that are not so well off,? said Sarah Warburton, president of the Graduate Student Association.
The service project was two fold. Warburton said donations were also being accepted for two students at BYU.
?There are two women who are single, have children and are going to school at BYU, who are in financial need,? said Warburton, from Price, currently working on a doctorate in biochemistry. ?We will be collecting donations, food and clothing for them.?
Many graduate students had expressed interest in being able to serve in the Utah community, she said.
?Many students aren?t from here but they still want to contribute back to the community,? she said. ?Because students are not financially stable themselves usually, this allows them to donate some of their time and give back to the community.?
Katie Evans, a student volunteer who helped cut out fabric for teddy bears, said these service projects help students think outside themselves.
?A lot of times we think it?s all about us,? said Evans, a freshman, from Yorktown, Va., majoring in elementary education. ?We?re going to school. We?re learning, but by doing service we?re giving to others, and we?re learning about them. It makes you feel so much better that you are helping kids.?
Another volunteer, Amanda Hunt, who also cut fabric for teddy bears, said she agrees.
?When you?re a student. your life is very selfish,? said Hunt, a junior from Inkom, Idaho, majoring in biology. ?Especially during finals week it?s good to take a breather and think about other people.?
Jenny Ervin said she enjoys service projects like the Christmas Workshop.
?Its fun to give service to the little kids in the area who won?t be able to get gifts from their parents this Christmas,? said Ervin, a freshman from Laquey, Mo., majoring in elementary education. ?I just think it?s great.?