Ashley Cecil

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6″ x 8″ watercolor, $60 ($10 donated to the Home of the Innocents)
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“Christmas on Campus;” it’s a term near to the hearts of every University of Dayton student and alumnus. While attending the university, COC is the transformation of campus into a fairytale playground for an enormous sea of local children “adopted” by students for the evening. Post graduation, the name changes to “Christmas off Campus.” In this case, alumni chapters organize an event in the same spirit to coincide with the real McCoy. This year I suggested that my local chapter volunteer at the Home of the Innocents.

Since 1880, this nonprofit has been serving children who are medically fragile and/or victims of abuse, in addition to housing and supporting pregnant and teen mothers. Their doors are never closed and many of their clients really do call the Home of the Innocents “home.” It’s a facility with a waitlist that speaks to its tremendous success.

Glad to help such troubled children during the holidays, our group of 36 volunteers wrapped donated gifts for the Home’s residents. With several hundred kids, each receiving multiple gifts, we obviously had our work cut out for us. A wrapping frenzy ensued as volunteers dipped into meticulously labeled bags of toys and clothes. Tables were crowded and scissors were stolen, but we finished the job. I hope the children who are facing the supposed happiest time of year while coping with loss, grief, and sickness will at least momentarily forget about their worries while they destroy our fine display of wrapping expertise.

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