By Hazel Scott / ASU

The spirit of giving and a generous and caring community are at the heart of the Alabama State University family. Students, faculty, retirees, and alumni have a long history of contributing their time and treasure, and spreading joy to others during the holidays.

With that in mind, on Tuesday, December 14, ASU continued an 11-year-old cherished Christmas tradition of providing toys and clothing to children from deserving families who need help with the holidays. This year, ASU adopted families through the Hands-on River Christmas Clearinghouse.

“Acts of kindness are intrinsic to our university and to those who carry on the long tradition of giving, both during the holiday season and throughout the year,” said Kenneth Waters, ASU’s CommUniversity Coordinator in the Division of marketing and strategic communications. “ASU is happy to have been able to make holiday wishes come true for 78 children who are part of 16 families in the river region.”

Faculty and staff welcomed their adoptive families by handing out our gifts under ornate decor outside the John Garrick Hardy Student Center.

Mr Lawson, a widower who is now raising his children as a single parent, said he was not sure he could give Christmas gifts to his youngest children aged 4 to 15. for his five children, so he turned to Hands-on for help.

“I am very happy. Very grateful. It means a lot. They (her children) have had bad days and ASU’s generosity will make them happy and put joy in their hearts. Thanks a lot, ASU! They will wake up to a merry Christmas and a blessed day, ”Lawson said.

Lawson has close ties to the institution because some of his family are Hornets and because of a former Montgomery Public School educator whom he calls his mentor – President Quinton T. Ross, Jr.

“Dr. Ross was my former teacher when I was at McIntyre JUniversity high school. I could count on him for sound advice. He was my favorite teacher. Dr Ross are very good people, ”he said.

In about 20 years, Lawson said he plans to send his youngest child to ASU. “I hope Dr. Ross is still here to help him,” Lawson said.

Holiday recipient Ms. Williams, a mother of six, had four children eligible for the Hands-on program. She said that without ASU’s generosity, Christmas would have been dark for her family.

“Our Christmas is past not knowing if they would have something to open for them to have a really good Christmas. It’s a big deal for my kids, ”Williams said.

Dr Ross said ASUletide is about giving back by spreading the holiday cheer to kids who otherwise might not have the joy of Christmas.

“This is the time of year to remember others. For years, Alabama State University has cared for those in need in the community. We are very happy to be able to continue to provide ASUletide with the participation of faculty, staff and all of our administrators to ensure that Christmas is made a very special Christmas for many families in our community. We are blessed here at Alabama State University to be a blessing to others, ”said Ross.

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