The semester has wrapped up, and winter break has arrived. As the end-of-semester rush is concluding and your student leaves campus for break, we encourage you to keep in mind those students who remain on campus. During breaks, whether spring, winter or even fall break, campus becomes very quiet. For students who stay, it can feel isolating and lonely, especially when their friends have left.

A couple of years ago, after the pandemic, the Office of Parents and Families Services had an ample supply of leftover items sent to students in isolation in residence halls. So those items were assembled to create Cheer Kits to give out during Winter Break to those staying on campus. Assembling packages for students on campus during the winter break has become a tradition, as this is our third year collecting donations and assembling packages for students. A couple of months before the assembly event, typically held during the first week of December, we promote the event by sending out a list of items to be donated. The items range from nonperishable food and toiletries to small activities that bring a bit of holiday joy. Even a small gesture can help students feel supported.

Each fall, we welcome families, parents, students and anyone who wants to volunteer to help assemble the packages. The process works like an assembly line, with some volunteers preparing the boxes with tissue paper and others adding items as the boxes move down the line. The final person adds a cheery note and seals the package. The Fire and Life Safety Department then delivers the packages in time for the holidays.

The option to donate and volunteer for this year’s initiative has passed, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Pack Families, including campus partners, who donated items and helped make this year’s initiative a HUGE success. Your support made a real difference for students who will remain on campus during the break. We hope you will join us next fall when we begin preparing for our December 2026 Cheer Kits. 

Our commitment to supporting students continues this February during our annual Spring Fling Fun Run, where Parents and Families Services partners with Feed the Pack Food Pantry to collect donations to address food insecurity on our campus. If you’re unable to participate in the fun run, the Food Pantry accepts donations year-round. Another option to support students is through the Wolfpack Styled Professional Clothing Closet, coordinated by the Career Development Center, to collect gently used clothing for students in need of free professional attire for interviews, career fairs, and conferences.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us care for the Pack.

Thomas Radford, Parent Ally

GO PACK!