Student Activities Advisory Council Visits Hope House

The Student Activities Advisory Council will take a field trip to donate gifts to Hope House’s annual holiday shop Dec. 7.

Team representatives from every East sport have been collecting gifts from their teammates such as Barbies, Hot Wheels, perfume and makeup since their first SAAC meeting Nov. 16. They’ll bring these donations to a holiday shop benefiting Hope House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence and abuse, which will be located in Community of Christ Church near Hope House’s shelter. Due to privacy, SAAC is unable to visit the shelter itself.

Hope House, which serves 122 victims in-residence and 4,000 others through outreach programs during the year, will welcome its patrons to choose holiday gifts from those donated by SAAC and other donors. Parents can shop for their children and children can shop for parents, free of charge, in the holiday store which opens this Saturday and operates until Dec. 22.

“It’s a way for them to piece their lives back together again and to start new traditions in an environment that’s free from violence,” Denise Griffin, director of media relations for Hope House, said. “For some people that can be the first time in a long time.”

This will be SAAC’s second trip to donate to Hope House. Though no total number of gifts were recorded from last year, East Athletic Director Debbie Katzfey said East brought over $300 in gift cards.

“I’m really hoping that everyone that’s involved in SAAC really spreads it to their teams and says ‘Hey, there’s a drop zone in Katzfey’s office, let’s fill it up, and let’s fill the buses,” Katzfey said.

Hope House’s most needed items are gifts for teens, Griffin said. They receive plenty of toys for children and gifts for women, including a recent donation of 100 gently-used purses. But they lack donations of teen gifts such as iPods, wallets and team jerseys.

Senior Hannah McPhail, SAAC representative for girls’ swim, said seeing the pile of gifts donated by student athletes last year was “so cool.” She wishes she could meet the people receiving the gifts instead of dropping them off; McPhail said her eyes were opened to the bravery of people escaping abuse after hearing a Hope House employee recount residents’ stories during the last SAAC trip. Due to issues of privacy for Hope House residents, SAAC volunteers are unable to participate in running the shop itself.

“I understand why we can’t, but it would be fun to see their reactions of getting the presents,” McPhail said. “But I still know that they’re going to really appreciate it.”