30 Days of Service

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Brookhaven College, students and employees came together during April for a variety of community service projects. Ninety-one employees and 118 students donated 867 service hours to 20 projects during April.

In addition to the service hours, employees, students, friends and families also donated enough birthday party supplies for 476 cupcakes and 1,400 guests at The Family Place, almost 100 stuffed animals to the Farmers Branch 911 Responders and two 55-gallon drums filled with school supplies and athletic shoes to Metrocrest Social Services. Developmental reading and writing students also donated $137 and additional school supplies.

President Richard McCrary, who served on several different projects during the month, said he was pleased and proud of the volunteer worked performed by Brookhaven College employees and students.

“Not only did Brookhaven participate in multiple projects in assisting others, but we, as an institution and as individuals, gained so much from this project,” McCrary said. “A special word of thanks goes to the organizers, team leaders and the many, many volunteers.”

The grand finale for the 30th anniversary celebration was a picnic in the International Courtyard on May 1.

Here’s how Brookhaven College employees and students helped the community:

Airborne Angel Cadets: Volunteers worked to send packages of food, gifts, clothing, toiletries, movies, medical supplies and other donations to troops serving in the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.; Who helped: Elaine Cheng-Kvanli, Nelda Contreras, Melody Guerra, Bill Hammerschlag, Amber Howell, Becky Knickel, Christi Mastroleo and Maribel Pullen.

Astronomy Extravaganza: Anahita Sidhwa presented a public lecture called “Galileo: From Italy to Jupiter in 400 Years.” Chaz Hafey, Steve Rowley and Sidhwa conducted a Sky Watch, and James Green presented a lecture on 400 years of telescopes to Early College High School students. Hafey, Sidhwa, Rowley, and Joe Sadowski also conducted a solar observing workshop for the public.

Helpful Hats: Bob and Gloria Burchfield spent time making and delivering hats for patients with cancer at the Evans Senior Center, Grayson County Home Healthcare and Texoma Cancer Center. They also made hats for troops going to Iraq.

Metrocrest Social Services — Annual Breakfast: Volunteers helped to set up Metrocrest’s annual breakfast for approximately 300-350 people.; Who helped: Alma Felix, Sarah Graifemberg, Janice Groeneman, Jamie Jenkins, Daffne Liberato, Alene Love, Rick Tuman and Monica Vasquez.

Metrocrest Social Services — Employment Assistance: Volunteers worked with participants in the Metrocrest Social Services program to create/revise resumes and discuss interviewing.; Who helped: Lisa Miller, Angela Shoultz and Robin Washington-White.

Metrocrest Social Services — Food Pantry: Volunteers served the food pantry in various ways throughout April. Some sorted, packed and distributed food for area families in need; others greeted patrons, helped shoppers with choices and carried food to cars.; Who helped: Winnie Clark, Suzette Constantine, Brenda Dalton, Terri Edrich, Rosa Fuentes, Ellis Green, Steve Hughes, Kevin Hurst, Kaplan, Lisa Miller, Barbara Neal, Monica Pauken, Maribel Pullen, Greg Rife, Carrie Schweitzer, Angela Shoultz, Jan Sickles, Anahita Sidhwa, Salwa Sinnokrot, Jean Sylvia Wise and students F. Gonzalez and N. Russell.

Metrocrest Family Medical Clinic — Office Work: Volunteers helped with data entry, Web site design and gathering recyclables.; Who helped: Kendra Anorue, Mary Beasley,Pat Byars, Karen Donaldson, Mildred Kelley, Edna Love, Deanie Martin, Ghada Moshene, Roman Mulat, Maribel Pullen, Mary Smith and Debi Whitley.

Metrocrest Social Services — Thrift Store: Volunteers sorted incoming clothes and shoes, prepared winter clothes to be recycled, pulled winter clothes from the racks and replaced them with summer items, dusted shelves and racks, assisted in cleaning and moving furniture, and folded blankets and linens. Volunteers also were stationed at the receiving dock to take in items from donors.; Who helped: Mahmoud Aly, Dawn Bishop, Bonnie Brisendine, Patti Burks, Russell Braga Castro, Winnie Clark, Sylvia Coffey, Ann Cortez, Donna Crenshaw, Sheniqua Davis, Sarah Graifenberg, Deborah Hanus, Mary Jo Henry, Oscar Lopez, Arlene Love, Edna Love, Sandra Melchor, Mark Meyer, Niraj Rai, Kamilla Safaryan, Cletha Silas, Julie Stearman, Christie Stone, Catherine Taglione, Ngoc Truong, Rick Tuman, Tarrilynn Wall, Marisa Walsdorf, Marjorie Westberry and DeBorah Whaley-Stephenson.

Mosaic Vocational Center: Volunteers worked throughout April to help Mosaic. Some helped with parties, paper shredding or product assemblage; others taught vocational skills or presented classical guitar recitals.; Who helped: Tina Aguilar, Austin Audu, Russell Braga Castro, Chong Chu, Lisa Ehrich, Delryn Fleming, Janice Groeneman, Greg Hernandez, Beverly Neu Menassa, Carrie Schweitzer, Clethia Silas, Jane Sims, Sheri VanCourt, Deborah Whaley-Stephenson and students A. Barnard, A. Billings, J. Briseno, K. Chancelor, M. Chiakpo, T. Claywell, M. Choi, C. Ditzemberger, J. Hinojosa, K. Hyun, M. Jacobo, H. Lee, N. Macellario, M. Marquez, S. Melchor, S. Mollet, B. Nashid, N. Nguyen, J. Oh, N. Ortega, C. Park, C. Pezzimenti, T. Pham, D. Price, M. Qodirova, D. Roberts, N. Russell, Q. Self, K. Squire, N. Stembridge and K. Veloz.

North Texas Food Bank — Food for Families: Volunteers packaged food for families at John Calvin Presbyterian Church.; Who helped: Stephanie Wells and students G. Bilpuch, I. Ceballos, C. Cormack, D. Davies, M. Gallegly, L. Hansen, J. Harbour, M. Huggins, C. Mello, P. Nguyen, D. Quirl, E. Ruiz and J. Wimberly.

North Texas Food Bank — Food Pantry: Volunteers and community members sorted and packed 16,861 pounds of food, which added up to about 13,173 meals.; Who helped: Edna Love, Barbara Szabo, John Klingensmith, Cynthia Shields, Sarah Lopez, Vincent Price, Anne Brophy, Daniel Hubbard, Mathewos Kassa and Michael Deason.

Paddlemania: Volunteers helped with face painting, registration, dragon boat races, and the 5K run at Senior Adult Services’ Paddlemania event.; Who helped: L. Maxey, Susan Maxey, Deanie Martin, Richard McCrary and students, L. Anderson, C. Aguilar, C. Averett, S. Baldwin, A. Birmingham, B. Buckner, A. Cantu, A. Causevic, R. Chavez, J. Choi, M. Choi, C. Cook, C. Cummings, P. Davila, C. Davis, C. Deel, M. Doggett, I. Garcia, H. Green, M. Guadiana, A. Guardado, L. Harvey, B. Herrera, K. Hinojosa, N. Martinez, L. McGaughey, J. McWilliams, S. Meinster, M. Meischen, T. Merrick, D. Pham, F. Pollan, A. Richard, T. Robinson, G. Stewart, A. Tan, V. Tapia, M. Potter and J. Teague.

Sally Ride Science Fair at Southern Methodist University: Volunteers helped with registration and escorted elementary students to various scientific workshops on the SMU campus.; Who helped: Susan Maxey, Anahita Sidhwa and students F. Ables, A. Birmingham, M. Choi, C. Flores, S. High, T. Kidd, M. Potter, R. Moore, E. Romero, B. Yang Tae Shin and L. Tracker.

Senior Adult Services: Volunteers helped area senior citizens throughout the month with yard work, landscaping and home construction.; Who helped: Tina Aguilar, Tony Alcala, Claire Bambrough, Rodger Bennett, Michael Dennehy, Karen and Sandy Donaldson, Nita Drescher, Tommy Drescher, Delryn Fleming, Tommy Gallegos, Sonja Guinn, George Herring, Gary Hodges, Jake and Jamie Jenkins, Ben Leung, Edna Love, Pam Lucas, Jose Martinez, Richard McCrary, Adrien Cuellar-McGuire, Dwain Moore, Nimmy Nair, Czarina Reyes, Doris Rousey, Sarah Rousey, Sam Salmeron, Stephanie Sarles, Harry Schneider, Jason Sickles, Crista Sikes, Bob Smith, Brad Thomas, Mike Trubisky, Edlecca Thompson, Sandy Wyche and students G. Cullum, H. Dai, P. Davila, D. Fast, S. Garber, C. Martin, V. Moncada, V. Peña, N. Russell, A. Sandidge, N. St. Amant and L. Van.