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SALISBURY, MD---ºÚÁÏÍø students, faculty and staff are preparing for the holidays with projects that benefit the whole community. The following is a sampling:

FILL THE SQUARE:  SU’s Student Government Association invites students to “Fill the Square” with coats and non-perishable food items to benefit local shelters and food banks. The drive is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, December 2, in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri Student Union.

TOURNAMENT OF TREES:  The Guerrieri Student Union hosts its 16th annual Tournament of Trees from December 3-10. SU organizations decorate 3-foot, pre-lit Christmas trees for a chance to win prizes. The trees are displayed in the center’s Fireside Lounge, with prizes for the top three, before being given to local shelters. This year’s theme is “Holiday Movies.”

PROM COURT:  SU students Shania Bailey, Jordan Cencula and Ryan Milton are among the candidates vying for positions on the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation’s 2020 Prom Court by helping to raise a goal of $200,000 for the organization’s Children’s House by the Sea in Ocean City. The trio has scheduled a “Bowl to Believe” bowling night event with raffles, silent auctions, mystery boxes and more to benefit the initiative 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, December 4, at Southbound Alley in Fruitland.

BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR:  SU’s Administration and Finance Division has invited the campus community to “Be a Santa to a Senior” through Home Instead Senior Care’s annual holiday campaign. Participants may choose an ornament from trees on campus inscribed with the name and wish list for an area senior who may be financially challenged or alone for the holidays. Those selecting ornaments are asked to purchase items from the list, wrap them and return them by Friday, December 6, for distribution by Home Instead.

TOYS FOR TOTS:  Participants in the SU Intramural Office’s 37th annual Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run and men’s and women’s Holiday Basketball Tournament were asked to bring in a toy or make a $5 donation to Toys for Tots as their “entry fee.” In addition, the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business also is collecting items for Toys for Tots through Friday, December 13.

ANIMAL SUPPLY DRIVE:  SU Libraries reminds the community that people are not the only beings who are homeless and hungry during its annual drive for area animal shelters. The collection continues through Friday, December 15. A list of needed items, such as dog and cat food, and collection boxes are located near the Library Services Desk in the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons and at the Dr. Ernie Bond Curriculum Resource Center in Conway Hall.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE JAYCEES:  Several student organizations have signed up to chaperone children in need when they purchase gifts for loved ones and themselves during the Salisbury Jaycees’ 51st annual Children’s Christmas Shopping Tour.

STUDENT-ATHLETES GIVE BACK:  The SU men’s lacrosse team is sponsoring holiday dinners for two local families this season. Members also are donating their time to youth lacrosse instruction sessions held at Crown Sports Center in Fruitland through the end of the semester. In addition, SU varsity athletics teams offered free admission to young athletes wearing their youth league uniforms during Youth Day this fall.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD:  Members of SU’s chapter of the Eta Sigma Gamma national health education honor society are participating in Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry, through which shoeboxes filled with toys and other small gifts are delivered to children in need worldwide.

TEDDY BEAR TOSS:  Spectators at the SU men’s and women’s basketball games vs. Marymount University in November donated stuffed animals to Toys for Tots during the teams’ annual Teddy Bear Toss. Those making the “shot” into a specially marked container with their donation were eligible to win SU gear.

I LOVE SALISBURY:  Hundreds of students partnered with community neighbors to pick up litter, rake leaves, sweep and perform other tasks during the Student Government Association’s 12th annual “I Love Salisbury” cleanup event in November.

SMASHING PUMPKINS:  SU’s Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity invited the campus community to paint—or smash—pumpkins in late October in exchange for donations to benefit the American Cancer Society. Through the event, the organization raised over $200 for breast cancer research.

ZOMBIE RUN:  SU’s Student United Way chapter raised some $6,000 for the United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore through its sixth annual Halloween 5K Dash in October. During the event, runners in costume dodged hordes of “zombies” (who looked a lot like SU student volunteers) as they participated in a 5K run or one-mile walk.

MARYLAND CHARITY CAMPAIGN:  Throughout the season, SU faculty and staff donate to organizations across the state through the Maryland Charity Campaign. The program raises more than $3 million annually for Maryland non-profits.