By Pleshae McPhee, Copyeditor
Thanksgiving is a time that not only emphasizes gratitude but also underscores the importance of charity.
As the holiday season nears, numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social organizations are preparing to launch initiatives that help local communities and countries globally.
According to Amaya Gomez, president of Saint Leo University’s social work organization, the organization typically helps the Benedictine sisters near campus prepare a meal for students that do not return home or for people in the local Saint Leo area. Gomez mentioned that carrying out this tradition this Thanksgiving would be challenging due to the pandemic; however, the organization still plans to coordinate a food drive.
“This year, it is hard to do this tradition due to COVID-19, but we are still planning on doing a food drive to collect canned and nonperishable goods that will be delivered by myself or Dr. Veronika Ospina-Kammerer to churches, homeless shelters, or whomever needs them for this holiday season,” said Gomez. If students are interested in getting involved, they can email Gomez at amaya.gomez@email.saintleo.edu for more information and updates.
Additionally, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad and Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. are hosting a feminine product drive titled, “Help Women. Period.” This drive begins Oct. 27 and ends Nov. 4 and aims to collect feminine products to distribute throughout the Saint Leo community. Items include pads, menstrual cups, and liners. Boxes will be stationed in front of Kirk Hall, the Student Activities Building, the dining hall and the Tapia School of Business with additional tabling events to better educate the community on the importance of this initiative. For more information, students can visit the Greek Life office in room 111 of the Student Activities Building.
The spirit of giving is also present in the surrounding Saint Leo area. Paige Ramsey-Hamacher, executive director, PDSO, and RO at the Center for Global Engagement, said that the local churches usually hold a dinner for the holiday and are in high hopes to do it again this November.
“Typically, the Holy Names Monastery will do a Thanksgiving dinner in conjunction with St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in San Antonio for the community. Last year, they weren’t able to do this because of COVID-19, but we’re hoping that once again they would do the meal this year,” said Ramsey-Hamacher.
For more information on this event, students can contact Ramsey-Hamacher at paige.ramsey.hamacher@saintleo.edu
Along with giving back in the Saint Leo community, organizations are also making a change worldwide. In light of the current pandemic, many countries suffered due to lack of vaccination and health resources to combat COVID-19. This Thanksgiving, global organizations are joining forces to provide vaccination resources to countries in need.
On behalf of the COVAX Facility, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) carried out the largest vaccine supply operation. COVAX was created last year to ensure vaccine equity among countries, with richer nations offsetting costs for poorer ones. Through the collaboration of the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and The GAVI Alliance, UNICEF is working with freight, storage, manufacturers and general logistics to ensure that countries in need of the vaccines are receiving them.
Additionally, Project Last Mile, a coalition of Coca-Cola partners, joined forces recently to speed up the distribution of vaccines across Africa. Currently, according to the WHO, Africa has only one percent of the continent vaccinated. To amend this, the Coca-Cola Foundation recently awarded a $2 million grant to Project Last Mile and an additional $500,000 grant to support COVAX in the coming months. This is to ensure vaccine equity in poor countries, along with tests and treatments.
This Thanksgiving, become actively involved in giving back to those who need it most in this time. Make it your duty to participate in a local turkey drive, share vaccination resources, or donate monetarily to a charitable website. Whether local or global, our actions go far.
