Once again this holiday season, the Dean of Students Office has teamed with the local Salvation Army for the annual “Angel Tree Program.”
The program lets families select unwrapped toys for their children, up to 11-years-old, at the Salvation Army in Schenectady. Angel tags, identifying the gender and age-appropriateness of the toy, are taped to the toys, which are priced between $8 and $10 each.
This year’s program coordinator is Karim Cruz-Neal ’02, administrative assistant at the Salvation Army. Cruz-Neal, who majored in Latin American Studies and Performing Arts, has worked at the Salvation Army since February. At Union, Cruz-Neal also met her future husband, Richard Neal ’02.
“I attended a summer camp with the Salvation Army Schenectady Citadel in 1999 while I was a student at Union,” said Cruz-Neal, who plays cornet in the Army's brass band and is a member of their songsters group. “It’s great to be working for them full time and to be able to partner with my alma mater on this important project.”
Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the Dean of Students Office in the Reamer Campus Center, Room 306, by Tuesday, Dec. 11.
This marks the 14th year the College has participated in the program. Each year, the campus community has donated more than 100 toys to the Salvation Army.
Families interested in the program may sign up at the Salvation Army’s Schenectady office at 222 Lafayette Street at these times. Eligibility is based on income and number of children:
Thursday, Nov. 15 from 2 to 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 16 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 2 to 5 p.m.
For additional information, contact Kim Puorto at (518) 388-6061 or puortok@union.edu. To contact the Salvation Army’s Schenectady office, call (518) 346-0222.