Del Mar College Make 150 Salvation Army Angels Brighter
Del Mar College
CORPUS CHRISTI (News Release) - On Dec. 12, Santa’s DMC helpers––including the College’s own jolly big guy, Valdar the Viking, dressed in his Christmas sweater, loaded up the Salvation Army truck for special delivery to children dreaming about that special day. Over 103 students collect gifts for 150 children.
The College began participating in the annual drive in the 1990s and has been organized through the Print Services Office with DMC’s Purchasing and Business Services Department.
“Every year, the Del Mar College family demonstrates their willingness to participate with the Adopt-an-Angel Program and provides generously to the Coastal Bend families in need of these gifts,” says Irma Maldonado, Duplicating Operator with the College’s Print Services Office. “I’m always amazed at how many DMC ‘elves’ respond when that first email goes out asking for supporters to assist the Salvation Army with meeting their mission and goals for the annual drive.”
One group of students with the College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Echocardiography Programs pulled together to support the Adopt-an-Angel Program as their community service project. A combined 25 students from these two programs and two faculty members, including Associate Professor of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Program Director Christin Vega and Instructor of Echocardiography and Program Director Amy Alvarez, have sponsored gifts to make Christmas for 14 children merrier this year. The programs’ efforts are not the first time to participate.
“I organize participation among our students in both programs every year,” says Vega. “Two students are paired per child, and they collaborate on getting the gifts.”
Vega, Alvarez and some of the students dressed in their scrubs during the Salvation Army’s gift pick-up.
Salvation Army’s program, Maldonado adds, “Children with the Adopt-an-Angel Program may not receive any gifts other than what the Salvation Army provides, so I feel blessed to participate with the program and to see how our campus community pulls together to help others. The personal reward from such an effort is incredible!”
