The BYU MBA Spouse Association supports families of grad students by hosting events such as the Gifts of the Heart exchange.
Volunteers at the most recent event sorted donations from local secondhand stores, Kid to Kid and Uptown Cheapskate, ahead of time. Students then filled wagons, garbage sacks and tote bags with any items their families needed.
Clothing made up the majority of the donations, but Gifts of the Heart also offered baby toys, books and home goods to students.
“I'm so grateful for them because otherwise it’s really hard to just get clothes for your kiddos while you’re in school,” Camille Dahl said. Dahl’s husband is a graduate student at BYU.
This is volunteer coordinator Sofia Giubergia's first year serving on the Gifts of the Heart committee. She shared that she was nervous at first to take on such a big responsibility, but she quickly learned she wasn’t alone. 183 volunteers stepped up to share the load.
“I would encourage everyone to just get involved because it’s not you alone, you know. It’s a community work,” Giubergia said.
Giubergia moved from Argentina to Utah with her husband last year so he could continue his education at BYU. Giubergia said that they came with only a few suitcases. Attending the Gifts of the Heart event last year allowed them to settle into their new life more comfortably.
“It’s really touching to kind of see the impact that this has on people’s lives,” Giubergia said.
Giubergia said volunteering with Gifts of the Heart has brought her joy and a sense of community.
“When we are actually helping others, everything is lighter,” she said.