Blue and Gold Society holds Family House gift drive

Students dropped off gifts in Towers Lobby yesterday for seriously ill children and their… Students dropped off gifts in Towers Lobby yesterday for seriously ill children and their families.

Operation: Santa Claus, sponsored by the Blue and Gold Society, is a gift drive that benefits families staying at Family House locations around Pittsburgh. Family House provides support for the families of children being treated at UPMC and other area hospitals.

The table Blue and Gold set up was covered with gifts.

“We got a ton of stuff today,” Blue and Gold member Lauren Wood said. “People have dropped of everything from Walkmen to slippers.”

Blue and Gold’s wish list of suggested donations consisted of simple items that most students could give. Listed items included winter clothes, such as heavy socks, hats and scarves, and new or used books.

Passing students dropped off gift certificates and stationary as they walked past. Pitt student Christine Elzer donated a large tin of cookies.

“It’s a really good thing to do,” she said. “It’s a good thing to do.”

Friday, members of Blue and Gold will take the donated gifts to the Family House in Shadyside. They’ll then spend some time with the families there, just to be with them for the holidays.

This is the 11th year Blue and Gold sponsored Operation: Santa Claus. Blue and Gold has sponsored the event ever since the group’s inception.

According to Blue and Gold member Autumn Walker, students donated 250 gifts and more than $250.

“Our goal was pretty high, we wanted to raise over $500,” she said, “but I think that it went pretty well.”