This week marks the return of the Hamilton Association for Volunteering, Outreach, and Charity’s (HAVOC) Mitten Tree Fundraiser. In the spirit of the holiday season, this project intends to provide gifts for less fortunate children.
At this annual event, HAVOC decorates a tree with cut-out paper mittens labelled with gift requests from children ranging from ages 2 to 16. In the past, kids have asked for clothes, games, puzzles, trucks, dolls, and other toys.
Detailing the history of the event, co-director of HAVOC Jonina Mignon ’21 said, “It’s an annual event that HAVOC sponsors every year, in which we cut out paper mittens that are labeled with a child’s gift request for the holiday season and hang them as ornaments on a little tree. People can then pick a mitten from the tree, and choose to sponsor that child by getting that gift, which is due in December.”
Mignon said that HAVOC welcomes students, staff, and faculty to participate in the fundraiser to fulfill these children’s holiday wishes.
“Any and all community members are encouraged to swing by to check it out!” said Mignon.
According to members of HAVOC, the gifts purchased by community members go to children with special needs in the local upstate New York area.
“The HAVOC mitten tree gifts go to Johnson Park Center and Upstate Cerebral Palsy.” said Director of Community Outreach Amy James. “At Johnson Park Center, for example, many of the parents don’t have the resources to get their kids something they really want for the holidays, so Hamilton students have an opportunity to provide that special gift.”
The Community Outreach and Opportunity Project (COOP) often collaborates with HAVOC on this event and other fundraisers like it to support less fortunate community members facing issues like poverty or poor health.
“The COOP runs a gift drive as well, which is more for faculty and staff,” said Senior COOP intern Devin Hebert. “Our gifts go to Hospice and Palliative Care and House of the Good Shepherd. The COOP’s gift drive is advertised to employees via e-mail, which will be sent out on Wednesday.”
As an organizer of the fundraiser, James emphasized the importance of Hamilton’s involvement in the surrounding community off the Hill, especially as it relates to holiday giving.
“It’s important for the Hamilton community to recognize needs in the surrounding area at a time of year when they can feel so much more pronounced,” said James. “It’s also a time of year when students may feel particularly stressed out, and giving to others can really offer some perspective.”
HAVOC will host a table for the Mitten Tree fundraiser all week from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in various locations across campus from Monday through Thursday. The fundraiser occurred in the Science Center Atrium on Monday, November 18 and in the Howard Diner on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 19 and 20. It will be held in McEwen Dining Hall on Thursday, November 21.
Students, faculty, and staff can find more information regarding the fundraiser in the campus-wide email sent out by HAVOC about the event. HAVOC encourages the Hamilton community to reach out to its co-directors, Jada Langston ’20 and Mignon, via email with questions or comments.
