UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Throughout the year, student workers at Penn State's Berkey Creamery make life sweeter for patrons, but during the holiday season, they channel their spirit of service into helping local children.
"The community supports the Creamery and Penn State in so many ways," said Julianne Ernest, a student supervisor at the campus landmark. "We believe it is important to give back and make the holidays a little more magical for children in need."
Their way of giving back is an annual holiday donation drive that entails placing donation cans at the registers for customers to donate their spare change. The students' own monetary contributions boosted the coffers, raising more than $400 when all was said and done.
"We were overwhelmed by our customers' willingness to donate and thank them for their generosity," Ernest said.
The students used half of the money to purchase toys for Toys for Tots, an outreach of the Marine Corps Reserve, which is coordinated locally by the Centre County Marine Corps League chapter, the Nittany Leathernecks Detachment.
"Providing a simple toy to a child that otherwise might go without during the Christmas season is the reason that Marine Toys for Tots has been doing this campaign each year since 1947," said Gene Weller, retired major and coordinator for Centre County Toys for Tots. "It is of particular joy when I see students such as at the Penn State Creamery work together to provide some hope and joy to those less fortunate children in our community."
THON, Penn State's annual student-run dance marathon benefiting children battling childhood cancer and their families, was the other beneficiary.
"THON has always been near and dear to my heart," said Chace Brokaw, a student supervisor at the Creamery and a THON volunteer. "THON's commitment to bettering the lives of children impacted by childhood cancer is truly inspirational. To be able to give to this organization is a blessing, especially during the holiday season."
Brokaw added that the student-run philanthropic organization also receives a portion of the proceeds from the sale of "THON Gold Ribbon Ripple," an ice cream flavor unveiled by the Creamery last year.
"We are very proud of our students, their great customer service and their generosity," said Susan Watson, the Creamery's commissary manager.