FYE Club Makes Holiday Special

The GCC First Year Experience Club had a holiday drive for donations and money to support a Christmas stocking and gift collection for AZTEC, a Glendale organization that supports people with disabilities.

Professor Deborah Van Marche says it was a great success and the staff and management at AZTEC were truly overwhelmed with GCC's generosity. The students of the FYE club collected money and items in order to stuff stockings for every person served by the organization's residential program - that is 130 people. That is a lot of items to collect, buy and bag to stuff. But, the students stepped up and got it done. AZTEC's clients were not the only individuals who benefited from this campaign.

"This felt great! To do something that really helped so many people have a better holiday season was really awesome!" says FYE club member Talia Logan.

Executive Director of AZTEC Vince Scott remarked, "We are so very appreciative of the efforts of the FYE Club. To be a part of watching several of the recipients glow as they viewed the mountain of gifts brought tears to many of our eyes. As is well known, DES support to persons with disabilities has been severely cut and the work of the FYE made this past holiday season so very special."

Van Marche thanked administrators, faculty, staff and students who rallied to support this cause and made a difference! The FYE Club is dedicated to creating a social environment that fosters community support, individual leadership and academic excellence, as well as the enhancement of professional skills.