The spirit of giving was alive and well among Troy University faculty, staff and students during December as they took part in several outreach efforts to give back to the community during the holidays.

On the Troy Campus, faculty and staff members donated toys in exchange for tickets to the annual Troy Campus Christmas luncheon. More than 250 toys were collected with most going to the Pike County Department of Human Resources to be distributed locally, according to Herb Reeves, Dean of Student Services. The remainder of the toys were sent to Children’s Hospital.

“We greatly appreciate our faculty and staff who gave back to the community to ensure that as many families and children as possible had a merry Christmas,” Reeves said. “We also appreciate Sodexo for its work in helping with our Christmas luncheon and toy collection.”

Faculty and staff on the Montgomery Campus donated 300 stuffed stockings for the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas stocking drive, meeting the campus’ goal for this year and bettering last year’s collection.

Ray White, Vice Chancellor of the Montgomery Campus, said taking part in the project has been an annual effort of the campus’ faculty and staff for many years, providing a lasting impact not only for families in need but also for those who give.

“Troy University is happy to help the Salvation Army each year with this great program,” he said.

The Phenix City Campus once again participated in the adopt-a-family program with the Phenix City Housing Authority. Linda Finley, who coordinated the effort, said families arrived at the decorated lobby of the Riverfront Campus on Monday, Dec. 13 to pick up their gifts. Families were also treated to cookies and hot chocolate.

Food drives were also held on the Dothan and Troy campuses to assist families in need during the holiday season. On the Dothan Campus, the Rotaract Club held its annual food drive, while on the Troy Campus, the Office of Civic Engagement collected food items for its Backpack for Kids program and Troy University international students.

The Backpacks for Kids program, coordinated by Civic Engagement in cooperation with the University’s Freshman Forum, addresses local needs related to poverty and hunger, according to Lauren Cochran, Coordinator for Civic Engagement. Students prepare the backpacks on a biweekly basis, filling them with supplemental food for local children living at or below the poverty line.

Through each of these efforts, TROY faculty, staff and students demonstrated the true Trojan spirit.

“There’s a family spirt at Troy University you find at very few other institutions,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. “Trojans worldwide are united by a culture of caring that celebrates service, patriotism and leadership.”