Arkansas Tech University students collected holiday gifts for 56 Arkansas River Valley families as part of the Salvation Army Angel Tree program for the 2023 holiday season.
This marked the eighth consecutive year the ATU College Panhellenic Council has partnered with the Salvation Army location in Russellville for the benefit of the Angel Tree program.
“What I learned the most from organizing the Angel Tree event is that the community here at Tech is so giving,” said Lynnlee Mitchell, 2023 president of the ATU College Panhellenic Council and a senior from Van Buren. “Money is becoming tighter, but it is so heartwarming that so many people came together it provide Christmas to area families.”
Rhylie Gachot, ATU assistant director of campus life, said ATU fraternity and sorority life chapters, ATU Student Government Association, the ATU Department of Residence Life, the ATU Office of Facilities Management and a variety of academic departments and organizations stepped forward to help with the ATU Salvation Army Angel Tree drive.
“We have both participated in Angel Tree programs with our families since we were young, so being able to branch out and do it with the ATU fishing team has been a really cool experience,” wrote Arkansas Tech students Kade Ratcliff and Zeke Stevens of Springdale in reflecting on contributing to the ATU effort. “The holiday season poses a great opportunity for us to give back to the community that always supports us.”
