SE feeds, entertains, gifts Arlington’s homeless
by Brian Shults, se news editor

    A generous helping of planning and care was served to those in need at SE Campus’ annual Arlington Life Shelter Dinner.

   Life Shelter residents travel to SE Campus every year for a night of entertainment, food and presents for the children.

   Jerry Coats, assistant professor of English, plays Santa Claus at the annual event and hands out presents to the children.

   “It is all so humbling for me because I do very little work at the dinner and get a very big response. I just walk in as Santa, and they love me,” he said.

   After the food was served, Santa made his entrance. Each child stood in line to speak with him while SE students dressed as elves selected a present to give each child.

   Meg Morovic, department chair and hospitality and management instructor, coordinated the organization of the gifts.

   “Our students spent Wednesday and Thursday sorting through the donated items to see what presents we had. The students separated them by age and, if needed, by gender. They wrapped them all and tagged them with something like ‘infant-three years.’ When the kids went up, the elves could give them the right present,” she said.

   Absent a specific name, each present has a tag, which tells what age group and gender the gift should be given to. The personal touch comes with the exchange between the SE students and faculty, who volunteer to help at the dinner.

   Coats enjoys helping the children.

   “The kids all have hopes and dreams, live in a very difficult world and lead very difficult lives. This is one good moment for them,” he said.

   Student volunteers serve the food and afterwards talk to the shelter residents. There were several new volunteers serving food, Morovic said.

   “When I was explaining what to do and how to serve the food, I asked, ‘How many of you did this last year?’ and only a few raised their hands. It was so rewarding to see so many new faces helping,” she said.

   The dinner offers benefits to SE Campus, not just Shelter residents, Morovic said.

   “It’s wonderful to see a collaborative effort like that come together between the students and faculty. And that was the hope: for our students, regardless of major, to take the feeling of charity and do something with it in their lives,” she said.

   Following the serving of the food, the student volunteers moved into the groups of shelter residents, talking to them as peers as the residents dined.

   Retired humanities division chair Violet O’Valle read the children the story of Frosty the Snowman while student Salmon Ahmad danced costumed as Frosty.

   No defining characteristic separated student from shelter resident, homeless person from a passerby in a college corridor at the dinner.

   In fact, one resident outfitted in his Navy fatigues was a TCC student.

   Former Navy commander and current dietary technician major, Brad Funkhouser, was experiencing a brief layover at the Arlington Life Shelter because his house burned down in late October.

   Without a place to live, the former commander stayed at the shelter.

   The SE Campus College Choir performed a variety of traditional Christmas songs.

   The program included Balula-low by sopranos Mallory Brady, Laura Scandizzo and alto Kacie Kresta.

   The SE Campus College Orchestra played and the SE Campus Singers performed popular songs such as Santa Baby and The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

   “I was in the military, so this is like a USO show to me. We had events like this during the holidays while we were out at sea,” Funkhouser said.

   Katrina Warner, dietetics instructor, and her students prepared the food: seven turkeys, several hams, potatoes, gravy, cranberries, rolls and macaroni and cheese.

   “The students were energetic, excited and enthusiastic about getting this dinner ready,” she said.

   “It is good for students to get an idea of what community service is and why it is necessary for those who have plenty to help in the community and use their skills to help others,” she said.

   Many volunteers echoed much of what Warner said.

   “Seeing the community come together in a thankful spirit for the needs of the less fortunate for the second year was a great experience,” Trey Collins, SE Student Ambassador president, said.

   Jessica St. John, communications major, concurred.

   “I like the fact that so many students are involved and everybody put forth so much effort,” she said.

   Molly Wolfenberger, SE Phi Theta Kappa president, likes the idea of repaying favors.

   “I loved it because I’ve been where I needed help at Christmas time, and I always received it. Every time since then, I’ve always tried to give when I have the ability,” she said.

   “I think most college students know by this time in their lives what it’s like to need a couple of little things,” she said.

   Dinner organizers included instructors Teri Schrantz, assistant professor of sociology, Morovic and Warner.

   Student services also coordinated much of the effort, including Steven Smith, Nita Haliburton and Tonya Davis. Asian Americans, Black Legacy, PTK and Student Ambassadors were among student groups involved in raising money for presents.