30 Days of Giving 2017

The impact SUNY has on its communities stretches well beyond a local connection. It’s why we take the time at the end of each year to showcase these efforts to you through our 30 Days of Giving campaign, so we can see the impacts on communities taking place across New York and the globe.

In rolling out this year’s campaign, new Chancellor Kristina Johnson quickly noticed the size and scale of the SUNY system, and what it could do for New York and our entire region. Indeed, 2017 was a big year in volunteerism and community service across the country. Our students, faculty, and staff made themselves a part of the national effort first hand.

We saw a noticeable effort in fighting the ravages of hunger and food insecurity at many campuses. Food banks were opened, donation drives were held, and awareness was raised with a variety of efforts and events. In addition to battling hunger for those in need, many campuses made an effort to help those in need in Hurricane ravaged parts of the south and Caribbean. Along with the #SUNYStrong campaign for hurricane relief, schools put their own efforts in to donate much needed supplies to areas working to rebuild.

Even with the 30 stories we shared, there’s some stories we weren’t able to share with you during the campaign that further showcase the efforts being made throughout SUNY.

About 40 members of Westchester Community College President Belinda Miles’s Senior Administrative Leadership Team spent the morning of December 15 at the Food Bank for Westchester packaging more than 800 children’s backpacks with nutritional food items. In Westchester County, one in five people face food insecurity, and the stats are much higher for community college students.
A display of enormous accumulation of non-perishable food items took place by the Accounting and Business Department at Nassau Community College, on behalf of the Student Veterans. This event was set up to complement the Accounting and Business Department students and faculty members’ dedication and support through “Toys for Tots” in December.
Nassau Community College was also the drop off of over 5,000 pounds of sweet treats for soldiers this fall. These donations were included in care packages through Operation Gratitude, a program that aims to serve the U.S. Military and First Responder communities.
At System Administration, the staff collected food donations to support the South End Children’s Café which serves the families of Albany’s South End neighborhood. Food donations were used by the café staff to create baskets full of Thanksgiving dinner ingredients that were distributed to the families of children enrolled in the café.

All in all, 2017 was another big year in volunteerism and community service throughout SUNY. The efforts put forth by our students, faculty, and staff show us that a college community isn’t just on the campus grounds. The impact a SUNY school has is felt further out into the regional communities and all of New York State.

Take a look back at the entire 30 Days of Giving 2017. Happy Holidays to all.

30 Days of Giving 2017:

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30 Days of Giving 2017:

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