Arkansas Tech University senior Samantha Rendon started supporting the Salvation Army Angel Tree program when she was a student at Charleston High School.
Now, as president of the ATU Collegiate Panhellenic Council, Rendon is leading an effort to connect more than 100 Arkansas River Valley children in need with ATU students, faculty and staff who want to make a difference during the 2019 holiday season.
“Coming here and seeing that our council is the one that hosted it for the Tech community…I really liked that,” said Rendon, who is on pace to graduate from ATU in May 2020 with a double major in psychology and criminal justice and a minor in sociology. “I try to save up as much money as possible for this. That way, when it comes time to start shopping for them I’m able to get them almost everything on their list, if not more. That way I know they are getting the satisfaction I had as a kid, even if their situations are difficult. It makes me happy to know that I am making a kid’s Christmas better.”
This marks the fourth consecutive year that the ATU Collegiate Panhellenic Council has partnered with the Salvation Army location in Russellville for the benefit of the Angel Tree program.
The ATU student-led effort to support the Salvation Army Angel Tree program yielded the sponsorship of 150 children in 2018. The ATU outreach represented approximately 40 percent of the local children who were served by the program last year.
“I know, as a Greek community as a whole, we always try to be active in our community,” said Rendon. “We’re always trying to give back, especially during the holiday season. A lot of us are more fortunate than these kids, so it’s an opportunity for us, even as 18, 19 or 20-year old college students, to support the community.”
Individuals interested in sponsoring one or more of the ATU Salvation Army Angel Tree children may send e-mail to atucpc.president@gmail.com or srendon@atu.edu.
Learn more about fraternity and sorority life at ATU by visiting www.atu.edu/fsl.
