Kiwanis, Mount Union wrap gifts for children in need at Alliance YWCA
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ALLIANCE – The sounds of snipping scissors and crinkling wrapping paper filled the Alliance YWCA on Thursday as members of various service groups wrapped Christmas presents for children in need.
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The Kiwanis Club of Alliance, University of Mount Union and Alliance YWCA worked together to wrap many gifts for 27 kids in the Alliance area. Each child will receive an outfit, two toys and a blanket made by Mount Union students.
Abby Schroeder, director of the Regula Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement at Mount Union, purchased the gifts using cash donations from Mount Union staff and faculty members. The university does a service project supplying presents to those in need during the holiday season annually.
"It's one of my favorite service projects every year," Schroeder said.
The gifts wrapped Thursday were only about one-third of the total items that will be donated this year. Schroeder said Mount Union will be providing presents to roughly 100 children.
Lynda Slack, president of the Kiwanis Club of Alliance, said Schroeder coordinated the event.
Kiwanis has wanted to incorporate more service projects into meetings, she said, and one of the group's primary focuses is support children in need in any manner possible. Contributing to a project that will directly benefit Alliance children seemed like a fitting opportunity.
The service project also proved to be rewarding for Mount Union students who participated.
Sophomore Emily Prestage, 19, of Cleveland said it felt good "seeing all of the gifts" and knowing the difference they will make to children in the area.
Prestage and the other students in attendance are members of Alpha Phi Omega, Mount Union's service fraternity.
Sophomore Gracyn Sage, 19, of Cleveland agreed that it felt good to be able to give back. She also enjoyed that the project allowed her to get involved with the Alliance community.
Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Kiwanis, Mount Union wrap gifts for children in need at Alliance YWCA
