Nine Herkimer County Community College athletic teams are helping local families this holiday season by donating money and gifts for children who are in need. Hundreds of sponsors, including Herkimer College, are supporting the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition Gram Lorraine Children’s Christmas Program, an initiative started by Herkimer College Professor Emeritus Ray Lenarcic and his students. Identified by select nurses and teachers, hundreds of children in the community will receive four items of clothing, a toy and book or game.
The nine athletic teams that helped to support the cause this year are men’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, swimming & diving, cross country, women’s lacrosse, women’s volleyball, and softball. Their goal was to help this project bring happiness to those less fortunate, something the Generals have participated in now for the past nine years.
“I can’t be more proud of the fact that a program initiated at Herkimer College continues to be supported by these coaches and student-athletes,” said Professor Emeritus Ray Lenarcic. “Their involvement epitomizes the concept of a true community college!”
In addition to the gifts purchased, 300 winter jackets will also be distributed in connection with the Gram Lorraine cause, with at least 100 of them going to a local school in Little Falls, NY – Benton Hall Academy.
“It’s important to have student-athletes participate in community events like this,” said Herkimer College Athletic Director Donald Dutcher. “We believe Gram Lorraine is a most worthy cause, and by participating, our student-athletes learn civic responsibility while helping people in our community.”
If interested in helping this cause, please contact Ray Lenarcic by phone at 315-866-7765 or by e-mail.
2015 30 Days of Giving
- Day 1: Binghamton University hosts Welcome Week Service Project
- Day 2: Brockport hosts a Saturday of Service
- Day 3: Niagara CCC Penny Wars for St Jude’s Children Research Hospital
- Day 4: Farmingdale Little Flower Event
- Day 5: Onondaga CC works to help K.I.D.S.
- Day 6: Tompkins Cortland Participates in Cancer Resource Charity Walk
- Day 7: SUNY ESF Contributes to the Food Recovery Network
- Day 8: Literacy Matters at FMCC
- Day 9: HVCC Builds Walls for Habitat for Humanity
- Day 10: Oswego’s Positive Community Impact Through SEFA
- Day 11: Dutchess CC Organizes Clothing and Food Drives
- Day 12: Morrisville Holds Back To School Drive
- Day 13: Charity on Ice at SUNY Cortland
- Day 14: Delhi’s Out of the Darkness Event for Suicide Prevention
- Day 15: Dare to Care Day at Buffalo State
- Day 16: FIT Students Engineer Garments for Veterans with Disabilities
- Day 17: SUNY Ulster Sends Text Books to Kenya
- Day 18: Niagara CCC Tackles Breast Cancer Awareness
- Day 19: Herkimer CCC Supports Gram Lorraine Children’s Christmas Program
- Day 20: Jefferson CC Gives Gift of Comfort
- Day 21: SUNY Canton Giving Tree
- Day 22: Alfred State participates in ELK Charity Challenge
- Day 23: Old Westbury goes Shopping for Service
- Day 24: SUNY Oneonta Giving Tree
- Day 25: Purchase College provides free ESOL classes
- Day 26: Tree Trot at Fredonia supports Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Day 27: Geneseo Continues to Provide Hurricane Relief
- Day 28: Rockland CC luncheon raises funds for Alzheimer’s Foundation
- Day 29: Stony Brook Bike-A-Thon For Disabilities
- Day 30: Suffolk County CC volunteers at Special Olympics event
