Library staff pitch in for Jessie's House

By Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

James Kelly, Humanities bibliographer, and Terry Warner, Administrative Services coordinator, look over some of the Christmas gifts the Library staff purchased for a local shelter for homeless families and individuals. (Sarah Buchholz photo)

es, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus - dozens of them, who work in the tall brick building in the middle of campus. This year, as they have done for the last five years, the staff of the Libraries have volunteered their time, money and skill and risked expanding their waistlines to ensure a merry Christmas for the families at Jessie's House, a shelter for homeless families and individuals in Northampton.

     Over that time, Libraries' employees have developed a system to maximize what they can do for the families they adopt. In each of the last two years, they have raised $1,000 in order to fill the wish lists of three families, purchase toys for the other children at the shelter and donate items Jessie's House can use for all its residents.

     "It was born out of the idea that staff, rather than buying inexpensive gifts for each other, could put their money toward good use and service a charity in the area," said Terry Warner, Administrative Services coordinator.

     For a couple of days each December, stuffed animals and other toys, clothing, and household items such as high chairs and toaster ovens take over part of the fourth floor in the Serials/Acquisitions area where they are displayed so staff members who donated money can see what their super-shopper colleagues have purchased.

     "It's amazing," said Emily Silverman, communications specialist and reference librarian, of the annual display. "We've got excellent shoppers."

     "It's all volunteer," said Warner. "We have some people who just love to shop and to find bargains, so we divide up the wish lists, and we have some people who just love to buy for adults. Sometimes staff shop on their own and bring in things on their own.

     "A staff person knitted 20 hats in a past year. Someone who collected teddy bears made sure we had enough to give to each child. Another person who reviews children's books donated copies of them. I never know what's going to happen. People come forward with all sorts of things."

     After a couple of days, the wrapping crew comes in to package the presents. Last year's wrapping effort was so efficient, Warner said, the entire pile was finished in 16 minutes.

     Humanities bibliographer Jim Kelly dons the official uniform of Santas everywhere to visit the shelter, set children on his knees and hand out toys. Other staff accompany him to see the presents distributed.

     "I try to encourage people to come along so they can see some of the rewards of their efforts," Warner said. "Last year was the first time we actually met a family that we adopted.

     "The first couple of years we raised $500 or $600. We wanted to do a little bit more, so we decided to 'Earn at the Coffee Urn.'"

     For the last three years, during November staff have baked goodies or donated donuts or other pastries made elsewhere and set them by the coffee pot. Passersby can purchase the treats for 50 cents. The project has paid off.

     "The third year we were able to raise $800," Warner said. "That year Jessie's House had 12 children living there. And it became clear that we needed to provide some assistance to Jessie's House itself because they have more than 20 people living there. We still adopt our families, but we also buy small gifts for the other children and something on the wish list of the house itself. Last year we really did a boost to try to make our goal even higher, and we asked to take on more families. There were 18 children."

     Warner said Libraries' employees were concerned that the decrease in their numbers would limit their fund-raising this year.

     "So we had it running at two coffee urns," she said. "We have traffic from other University employees, so that helps. We also had people who would donate to not eat the treat, because they are on special diets.

     "It's become such a tradition in the library at the end of the 'Earn at the Coffee Urn' when we discovered that we were a little bit short from last year's total, a staff member just couldn't stand that so they made a donation that brought it to $1001."

     Warner foresees the program continuing.

     "It's a great way for folks to feel good during the holidays," she said.