Coats for Kids

The News10 Coats For Kids drive, sponsored by the Zeta Sigma Chi Sorority on behalf of the Greek Council, is accepting donations on campus Nov. 30 through Dec. 7 in hopes of collecting 300 coats for children in need.

Charisse Francis, vice president and community service chair of the Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority, is in charge of the event.

“We want to give back to the community in ways that will substantially help families in Sacramento who need it.

News10 Coats for Kids is an absolutely amazing service for members of Sacramento who are in need of keeping warm this cold holiday season,” Francis said. “We wanted to participate in this amazing event to show that we care about our community and the people within.”

Students can give back by visiting Zeta Sigma Chi’s table in the University Union underneath the stair case.

“Students can get involved by donating their new or gently used coats to the coat drive and to News10. If they are unable to take the coats to an off-campus drop-off location after Wednesday Dec. 7, we would gladly love to be of assistance,” Francis said. “Although our goal is to collect 300 coats, we want to emphasize this is not about us. It’s about our community members who are in need of assistance.”

Flapjack 5k Run

The fourth annual Flapjack 5k Run on Dec. 10 will benefit Caleb Greenwood Elementary School.

24 volunteers are needed from 7:15 to 10 a.m. to serve as course monitors for the run. Volunteers and race participants are then invited to stay for a pancake breakfast in appreciation of their service.

The event is a family-friendly race open to all ages and is close to Sac State.

Misty Garcia, Sac State Serves volunteer coordinator, will be in charge of volunteering for the event.

“For our volunteers, it will be a nice short break from the stress of finals week, and relieve any tension with a lot of cheering, noise making and having fun,” Garcia said.

Girls on the Run will also be at the event, a nonprofit organization for young girls to focus on supporting others to improve self-awareness and confidence by participating in charity runs.

“Our volunteers make it possible for the families and Girls on the Run to take part and enjoy the event with their children.” Garcia said.

California State Employees Food Drive

It is about that time of year again for Sacramento State to take part in the California State Employees Food Drive, a drive the campus has been participating in for the past 37 years.

Running Nov. 14 through Dec. 20, the drive will be collecting cash and food donations. Food can be delivered to information booths at any campus entrance, or brightly wrapped boxes in holiday paper in many main buildings and offices. Bulk food donations may be delivered to the University Transportation and Parking Services office. Mon through Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nancy Fox, senior director of UTAPS, is running the event this year.

“The staff enjoys the task because their efforts are helping people in need in our community,” Fox said.

Cash donations are also important for the drive, making it possible to purchase bulk resources throughout the year such as powdered milk, peanut butter, beans, rice and ramen noodles, which are more expensive in smaller quantities.

A receipt will be provided for monetary donations, which are also tax deductible; every dollar donated will add up to 2.5 pounds of food for those in need.

“So far, the campus community has donated $1,350 in monetary donations and contributed approximately 1,000 pounds of canned and dry goods toward the drive. In addition, nine turkeys were donated during the turkey drop,” Fox said. “We hope to accomplish an overall larger donation each year we coordinate the food drive. More food and monetary donations means more people in our community have food on their table.”

Kaitlin Bruce can be reached at [email protected]