BY: DANIELLE CLARK, STAFF WRITER
As the holiday season approaches, St. Bonaventure University’s Franciscan Center for Social Concern is preparing for its annual Giving Tuesday campaign. Giving Tuesday is a national day dedicated to giving back and supporting charitable organizations that make a difference in their communities.
“Giving Tuesday is a day of giving,” said Alice Miller Nation, director of the Franciscan Center for Social Concern. “It’s sort of become a tradition in the United States that as many in our country are entering into a season of giving, they have an opportunity to give to their favorite charities. That’s why the Franciscan Center for Social Concern is a perfect fit for Giving Tuesday.”
The Franciscan Center will start its campaign on Nov. 18, with the official Giving Tuesday date falling on Dec. 3. This year’s fundraising goal is $75,000, which will support a variety of programs, including The Warming House, Bona Buddies, Break the Bubble, SBU@SPCA, the SBU Food Pantry, and Silver Wolves.
“These programs don’t receive university funding,” said Miller Nation. “We get a lot of support from the university in many ways, but financially, we rely entirely on donations, grants and Giving Tuesday.”
The center raises roughly $125,000 annually to run its programs. Some of that funding comes from grants that students help write, which is a unique opportunity for undergraduates to gain professional experience.
The Warming House, which is the nation’s oldest student-run soup kitchen, accounts for the largest portion of the Center’s budget, serving about 9,000 meals each year to those in need across the Olean community.
“When you think of what students are doing there, it’s really pretty amazing,” said Miller Nation. “It is going to bed tired after you’ve washed so many pots and pans, knowing you did good for others. That is Franciscan values at their best: welcoming those who haven’t always been invited in.”
After a one-year hiatus, Giving Tuesday returns this year with renewed focus on long-term sustainability.
“Last year we did not host Giving Tuesday, and as a result, we ran a deficit,” said Miller Nation. “We’re back now and working to ensure that these outreach programs continue to be here for Bonaventure students in the future.”
The campaign relies heavily on social media and student involvement to spread awareness. Miller Nation also is encouraging students to get involved through small acts.
“I’m not asking for a ton from students,” Miller Nation said. “If you buy three mocha lattes a week, give up one. A $5 donation is just as important to me because it’s given out of sacrifice. And if you can’t give financially, come volunteer. Go to the Warming House, visit the SPCA, or help out at the food pantry. Just see what it does to you.”
Miller Nation said she hopes students not only give back, but also carry out the Franciscan values of compassion, wisdom and integrity throughout their lives.
“On the day of graduation, I want students to hold that diploma high,” she said. “But I also want them to take their Franciscan values with them; to look around and see who’s not yet invited in, and make room in their circle. That’s exactly what Francis did with the lepers, and that’s what we should be doing for each other.”
