By Barbara Fuller
Many students have already found ways to get into the Christmas spirit at BYU by filling more than 300 boxes with various items such as books, games, letters and photos. These gifts were shipped off to those serving our country on October 30.
A program titled Project Uplift, through the Center for Service and Learning, provided this opportunity. It was an event allowing hundreds of BYU students to serve through giving to those fighting for our country.
“The project is an annual event,” said Sierra Wilson, one of the program directors. “It”s basically to create Christmas packages for service men and women overseas in various locations that won”t be with their friends and family for the holidays.”
She continued to explain that the Center for Service and Learning gets hundred of boxes, spreads the word, students pick them up, return the boxes to the Center filled with goodies, decorate the packages, and then give them to an organization, Operation Give, who sends the boxes across the world.
Wilson said her favorite thing about being involved was seeing how many students took the initiative to help.
“It was so exciting to see all that,” Wilson said. “Seeing people respond to the opportunity to serve.”
She said many people used the Center for Service and Learning”s Web site to volunteer, from individuals to whole relief societies.
“Thank you to every one who participated, and come back next year,” Wilson said.
Another program director, Danni Wright, a junior studying marketing, said the opportunity gave her a different perspective and allowed her to reflect on her patriotism.
“I think it”s a really fun way to respect someone way across the world serving the country,” Wright said. “You can give back and show your appreciation.”
Wright explained that the program plans on having a reflection meeting sometime in November with a guest speaker who has served in the military. She said it will give them a chance to reflect on the things they are grateful for.
