Welcome to UC Irvine Staff Assembly
Holiday "Staff Helping Hands" Program
Sponsored by
"Helping Hands" is co-sponsored by Staff Assembly and the Faculty and Staff Counseling Center (FSCC).
Overview
The "Staff Helping Hands" Program provides an opportunity for members of the UCI community to lend a helping hand during the holidays to staff members who are experiencing difficulties providing a holiday experience for their families. Those who need a helping hand are paired anonymously with those individuals or groups who are interested in sponsoring a family.
How the program works
A family communicates their specific needs by an email or paper application to the Faculty & Staff Counseling Center (FSCC). FSCC then codes each application with a “Family Code” (A, B, etc.) and a “Member Code” (A1, A2, etc.) for anonymity. The Program Coordinator then pairs applicants with volunteers/ sponsors in addition to providing advice and assistance to voluneteers.
Most volunteers/ sponsors will shop and wrap; others will purchase gift cards at grocery, department and discount stores. When the shopping is completed, food and gifts are delivered to the FSCC office so that anonymity is maintained during delivery.
It is important to note that participation is confidential as is equally important that children, especially youner ones, receiving assistance be able to think their gifts are from Santa or from their parents.
Schedule for 2007
- November 26th: deadline, to submit applications, for both applicants and volunteers/ sponsors;
- December 3rd: FSCC Office notifies applicants of their application status, codes applicants information to maintain confidentiality and forwards to Program Coordinator;
- December 4th: Program Coordinator matches applicants to volunteers/ sponsors, provides volunteers with anonymous description of designated family and their wish list;
- December 5th- 18th: Volunteers/ sponsors shop, wrap and deliver items for their designated families to the FSCC Office;
- December 19th- 21st: Recipient families will be contacted to pick up their care packages from the FSCC Office;
- January 2008: FSCC codes and passes on any "Thank You" notes received from a designated family only to Program Coordinator for distribution to volunteers/ sponsors.
Participation
Need a helping hand for the holidays? Or are you fortunate to have enough to share? Click on the approrpiate link below to participate:
I could use a hand during this holiday season
I/my department can lend a hand
Together, we can make the season warm and bright!
