fundraising

T'is the season to give.

Anything is appreciated: your time, your money, your old stuffed animals, some flour.

This is the time of the year when everyone starts to catch the holiday fever and suddenly feels a little more generous. Many individuals and clubs around campus are putting in the effort to helps others and they want your help as well.

Can it all be done simultaneously?

Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (ALD) is sponsoring a Teddy Bear Drive. They are asking that any unwanted stuffed animals be brought in to be distributed to local organizations to be used in their family rooms or in shelters, and given to needy children for Christmas.

"I believe the fundraiser will have support because we are not asking for donations or asking anyone to purchase anything," said Amber Hartman, president of ALD. "Stuffed animals are a comfort item that often people store away in their houses because they were gifts or because they have special meaning."

Many of us have bags full of stuffed animals. This is a way to get rid of the keepsakes of childhood memories and give a child a chance to make new memories with them. If you want to donate any of your stuffed animals, drop off spots include any RA room, RHD offices, Student Life Office in Rita Bole, and Student Services. Collections end December 9th.

Another charity fundraiser was being put on by ROTARACT, a community service club. For all of November, they collected nonperishable boxes and cans for the Lydon Food Pantry. According to Curtis Mathewson, President of ROTARACT, they have received plenty of support and numerous food and cash donations.

"It isn't surprising to see many groups trying to give back to the community," said Mathewson. " I feel that each cause is important, and no support, whether it be for our cause or another organization's, is too small to be appreciated."

ROTARACT has had food drives like this is the past, and plans to continue having them every fall.

Danielle Lapointe, an RA, is working to get people involved in baking treats to send to troops overseas. She got the idea from www.treatthetroops.org and decided to try to do a the same thing at LSC, though on a smaller scale. With the help of a couple other students, almost seven dozen cookies have been baked and shipped so far.

"I set it up as a program to try and get students involved in a community bigger than just this campus," said Lapointe. "There wasn’t as much support as I had hoped for, but I was very thankful for those who did help."

Lapointe is hoping for more donations of ingredients, money, and time to help send out some more treats to the troops.

Bringing soldiers home for the holidays is another goal people are trying to achieve. There are tins scattered around campus to collect pennies to go towards this. The goal is to charter planes to bring home members of the Vermont National Guard who can not otherwise afford to come home for the holidays.

There are 1500 men and women of the National Guard that are in training in the south before their deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan in early 2010. Operation Holiday homecoming wants to give them a chance to come home before they have to go overseas.

Hunting

They are awaiting the pull of the trigger.

Deer, bears, squirrels, rabbits, foxes, and raccoons --they're all aware of your intent.

The tranquility, the solitude, and eventually (cross your fingers) the big kill leads people to wake up at the crack of dawn to go hunting.

"There's definitely a huge adrenaline rush when you see an animal that you're allowed to shoot," says Andrew Cochran, a freshman majoring in Psychology. "A lot of people that don't hunt think it's cold-blooded, but it's to be with people and to be in peace."

Cochran has been hunting for six years. He's gotten a 120-pound deer and a 532-pound moose, which he says was huge. He especially enjoys the time he hunts because he shares the experience with his family - most often with his dad.

Ethan Mitchell, who is a freshman majoring in English, said that he enjoys hunting because it gives him time to get away and think.

"It is a tradition in my family," he says. "My father hunts, as did his father, and his father and so on." Mitchell says that as soon as his father felt that he was old enough, he took him through the required steps to get his licence, and took him hunting. He's been doing it ever since.

"The backwoods of Vermont is one of the best places to find relaxation," Mitchell said. "Then of course, there is the thrill of the hunt, the smell of the cold crisp wind. I love it all." He is looking forward to exploring new northeast VT hunting territory this year, including Victory State Forest.

It's not difficult to get involved in hunting. It costs $20.00 to get a licence for the season if you are a resident of Vermont, and $90.00 if you are not a resident. A hunter safety course is required before a first licence can be obtained.

HUNTING SEASONS
Sept. 1 - Nov. 19 -- Black Bear Hunting

Nov. 14 - Nov. 29 --Rifle Deer Hunting

Dec. 5 - Dec. 13 -- Muzzleloader Deer and Second Split Bow and Arrow Deer Hunting

Oct. 10 - Dec. 31 -- Raccoon Hunting

Oct. 24 - Feb. 14 -- Red and Gray Fox Hunting

Sept. 1 - Dec. 31 -- Gray Squirrel Hunting

Sept. 26 - Dec 31 -- Ruffled Grouse Hunting

Sept. 26 - March 14 -- Hare and Rabbit Hunting

Oct. 8 - Nov. 6 -- Woodcock Hunting