This last holiday season, the staff, faculty, and students from the Ross Medical Education Center in Elyria, Ohio, participated in Haven Center’s Christmas for Caring Campaign for the third year in a row. Haven Center is Lorain County’s only emergency shelter for men, women, and children offering a 68-bed facility that provides meals, toiletries, laundry, clothing, and any other item their clients need. In addition to providing these items, Haven Center also connects them with services and items they will need to transition into independent housing. Typically, the Haven Center is not full until closer to Christmas. However, this year they have been on a waiting list since before Thanksgiving and anticipate being full through the winter months.
“When we presented the campaign to the classes, our students were very enthusiastic to participate,” shared Financial Aid Student Support Representative Peggy Garn. “Some of the classes incorporated the collection into their holiday door decorations. With the spirit of community service at Christmastime, students and staff alike contributed to the bountiful collection delivered to Haven Center.” The campus worked hard to collect as many items as possible throughout the drive before heading to deliver them at Haven Center. Upon arrival, staff and residents of Haven Center helped unload the donations and expressed their gratitude for the much needed items that most people take for granted every day.
The Ross Elyria team is so proud of their community and wants to thank staff, faculty, and students for embracing what it means to serve others through their selfless contributions to those less fortunate during the holiday season. “Because of everyone’s generous donations, we were able to donate food, blankets, clothing, toys, and other basic hygiene essentials to help the less fortunate members of community through the holidays, and show them that the spirit of giving is alive and well,” said Peggy Garn. The campus is already looking forward to participating again next year.