This content was published: December 19, 2011. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Sylvania Campus Winterfest benefits Neighborhood House
Photos and story by Kate Chester
On Dec. 14 Sylvania-based faculty and staff enjoyed the annual “Winter Fest” gala, whose theme this year was “50 Festive Years of Winter Wonderland.”
Once again a variety of campus departments and divisions voluntarily participated in the event by creating festive, themed baskets – about 15 this year – that were awarded to attendees who bought gift tickets. The sale of gift tickets benefitted Neighborhood House, a non-profit agency that offers anti-poverty services for seniors and youth ranging from transitional housing, to emergency food boxes, to financial assistance, to day care.
Winter Fest attendees also brought canned food for the non-profit’s food pantry and the campus’ student-led food canteen, to help students in need.
(from left to right) Dave Happ, Winter Fest event chair, Rick Nitti, Neighborhood House executive director, and Linda Gerber, Sylvania Campus president, celebrate the large haul of canned and non-perishable food for Neighborhood House’s food pantry and Sylvania’s student-run food canteen. The collection stemmed from the 2011 Winter Fest celebration at Sylvania.
“Our organizational mission is to prevent hunger and homelessness,” said Rick Nitti, executive director of Neighborhood House, “and our ability to succeed is due in part to the great help and support we receive from Sylvania.”
For the price of $4, attendees indulged in a lunch buffet that included pasta, meatballs, sushi, mozzarella sticks, pot stickers and a range of desserts. Music ran throughout the event: History instructor Sylvia Gray kicked things off by playing the piano. Julianne Johnson, a music instructor, served as conductor for the college’s student choir who sang gospel and chamber music, along with Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.”
Linda Gerber, Sylvania Campus president, was the event MC and with the help of “elves,” distributed winning gift baskets and door prizes.
“I want to thank Sylvania’s Traditions, Rituals and Fun Committee that planned today’s event,” said Gerber. “It takes a lot of work to coordinate the menu, music, baskets and more, and each year they do a terrific job.”
Last year the give-away of basket entries, gift certificates and donations from local restaurants and businesses generated nearly $900 for Neighborhood House and more than 500 lbs. of non-perishable food. While final tallies from this year’s event are still being calculated, Gerber announced mid-way through that close to $500 had already been raised, and at least seven attendees had each brought 50 cans of food to stock Neighborhood House’s food pantry and the Sylvania Campus ASPCC’s food canteen.