Contact: Melissa Reifert
December 14, 2006

"MECC Serves Week” Concludes with Christmas Social

Students, staff, and various social services agencies recently gathered together for the “Mountain Empire Community College Serves” Christmas social, held in the Goodloe Center on campus.  The social marked the end of “MECC Serves Week”, an annual event where the Student Government Association (SGA) and other campus organizations place wrapped boxes in the hallways of each campus building for individuals to donate items to those who are less fortunate.  These items include non-perishable foods, toys for both girls and boys, clothing for children and adults, books, toiletries, and a variety of other goods.

A number of local charitable organizations were on hand at the event to accept the donations including the Big Stone Gap Food Bank, the City of Norton Department of Social Services, Family Crisis Support Services, King’s Christian Academy, the Lee County Department of Social Services, Powell River Baptist, the Scott County Department of Social Services, Victory Boys’ Home, and the Wise County Department of Social Services.

Bonnie Elosser, Director of Student Services, thanked volunteers and contributors, and described the origins of “MECC Serves Week”, which began eight years ago, and takes place annually around Christmas time.  Baptist Student Union Minister Jim Collie gave the invocation for the event, while children from King’s Christian Academy provided the entertainment with a musical program. 

The social concluded with the presentation of the items collected by MECC students and staff to representatives from each organization.  Lunch was also served as part of the celebration.  MECC’s Student Leadership class and SGA members, with support from the Office of Student Services, were in charge of organizing and promoting the week of service, as well as the Christmas social.

MECC students and staff, as well as several community organizations, recently gathered for a Christmas social, which marked the end of “MECC Serves Week”.  Representatives (pictured above) from the following organizations collected donations of non-perishable foods, toys, clothing, books, toiletries, and a variety of other goods:  the Big Stone Gap Food Bank, the City of Norton Department of Social Services, Family Crisis Support Services, King’s Christian Academy, the Lee County Department of Social Services, Powell River Baptist, the Scott County Department of Social Services, Victory Boys’ Home, and the Wise County Department of Social Services.

More Press Releases