At Fulton-Montgomery Community College, students have many opportunities for civic engagement on campus. One such organization that promotes civic engagement is the EOP/TRIO club.
The club is dedicated to promoting camaraderie among students in the EOP and TRiO programs and to creating opportunities for FMCC students (with a focus on EOP & TRiO program participants) to participate in extracurricular activities that promote civic engagement, cultural appreciation, team building, and/or community service.
This holiday season, the EOP/TRIO Club successfully completed a Giving Tree initiative for local families. The group purchased and donated gifts for two families, benefitting four children and two mothers. The mothers and children are all current clients of the Domestic Violence Unit of the Family Counseling Center in Gloversville, NY.
Shianne Hopkins, the EOP/TRIO Club President, was instrumental in the initiative’s success. The Domestic Violence Unit of FCC is very near and dear to Shianne and she connected the club with Amanda Anderson, the Domestic Violence Unit Director. Thanks to their collaboration, and donations from Shianne’s large network of community members, a Giving Tree was put up in the campus EOP/TRIO study area.
Students were excited for the opportunity to give back by shopping for the families. It was heartwarming to see the excitement of the students as they shared their experiences shopping for toys and setting them up under the Giving Tree. Shianne went above and beyond to provide special gifts for the mothers of the children, who did not ask for, nor were expecting gifts. The Giving Tree was a great demonstration of the consistent generosity and selflessness that FMCC students show on a regular basis.
