OLD WESTBURY — Because of the hard work and compassion of CSEA members in our SUNY Old Westbury Local, a few more children with critical illnesses will have the chance to make their dreams come true.
Local members, along with other members of the school’s staff, are donating to the school’s SEFA (State Employee Federated Appeal) activities.
Proceeds from this year’s campaign go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to the lives of the children with critical illnesses.
SUNY Old Westbury SEFA Committee Chair Rhea Hitter checks a shoe donation box that she placed on campus.
Helping those in need
SUNY Old Westbury SEFA Committee Chair Rhea Hitter is among those credited for spearheading the charitable solicitation.
Hitter, along with SUNY Old Westbury Local member Lisa Fleureau, met with school officials to brainstorm about charitable fundraisers that would be inexpensive to manage and easy for potential donors to participate in.
After researching charities, the group discovered Funds2Orgs, which is an organization that helps other groups fundraise by working with them to collect gently-used and new shoes.
Funds2Orgs sends a check to the fundraising organizations for the shoe donations. Then, Funds2Orgs distributes the donated shoes to developing nations to advance entrepreneurship.
“I’ve really enjoyed working on this drive not only because I get to help people, but because of the way charitable events brings our membership together,” said Hitter. “Volunteers like the SUNY Old Westbury Local board help collect the shoes and bring them to the storage room.”
Hitter was able to spread the word about the shoe drive by using social media, making posters and word of mouth.
Hitter also collected donations from members of organizations outside of our SUNY Old Westbury Local and other college employees. She agreed to personally pick up donations.
Working together
When Hitter first began collecting shoe donations, she was worried about where she was going to store them. Without the resources to rent a storage unit, the only option she had was to store the shoes in her office.
SUNY Old Westbury Local Executive Vice President Laura Gallagher helps keep track of how many bags of shoes have been collected.
That’s when SUNY Old Westbury Local Executive Vice President Laura Gallagher stepped in to lend a helping hand.
“I had a faculty member who just retired, so I had an empty office,” said Gallagher. “I thought it would be the perfect spot for her to store the donations.”
Gallagher praised Hitter for her efforts.
“A former colleague of mine used to say that you should give the most work to the busiest person because it always gets done,” said Gallagher “Rhea is busy with a lot of things in her personal life, but she always makes time to help people.”
After paying the Funds2Orgs truck fee, the school’s SEFA program will receive $250 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In addition to the shoe drive, Hitter has also raised money for those in need in other ways, including a charity auction, a lottery board and raffles.
Future plans for the campus SEFA program include growing the donations and monies raised, every year.
“I’m going to raise our donation goal every year,” said Hitter. “If we don’t make the goal for one year, we’ll just try to make up for it the following year.”
Based on this year’s totals, that will not be a problem. This year, donations have reached over $8,000.
“SEFA is a wonderful organization,” said Hitter. “I have personally used some of their resources and I just wish more people knew what a blessing they are.”
SUNY Old Westbury Local President Tommy Noble adds another bag of shoes to the already large pile of donations.
SUNY Old Westbury Local President Tommy Noble hopes to spread the word about the philanthropy happening in his local.
“It’s important that our members’ spirit of volunteering be recognized,” said Noble. “It’s my hope that the more people hear about these great works, the more they will want to get involved.”
Hitter credits the success of the campaign to the relationships workers on campus have with each other.
“I’m blessed to have the friends that I have at Old Westbury,” said Hitter. “The fact that I get to do something for people in need makes me proud.”
— Wendi Bowie
