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Students bring Thanksgiving to 34 families by Cindy Abole Public Relations Acting in their own spirit of compassion and thanksgiving, the College of Pharmacy Class of 2007 teamed up with a Lowcountry Bi-Lo food store to provide holiday meals for underserved families through the East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO). COP student Kate Seningen arranges boxes of Thanksgiving Day dinners with Karen Hembree, center, and Layne Hepler for a delivery to East Cooper Community Outreach. Five pharmacy students picked up 34 fully-cooked turkeys and fixings, plus other canned goods from a West Ashley Bi-Lo store  for a delivery to the Mount Pleasant facility on Nov. 22. A total of 34 Lowcountry families enjoyed the bounty of a fully-cooked Thanksgiving Day turkey and all the trimmings thanks to the hard-working efforts of 77 pharmacy students and project supporters. Together, they raised $885 within a three-week period as part of their class community project. The proceeds collected allowed them to purchase Thanksgiving dinners for needy families and individuals connected through ECCO. Pharmacy students Lindsay Ford and Robin Minhinnett, center, accept a donation from contributor Daniel Simmons at their donation table located outside the medical center cafeteria. For each donation, contributors were asked to write their names on turkey cut-outs, which were displayed on an adjoining wall.  “The project was a big success thanks to the many people who were involved in making it happen,” said Kate Seningen, Class of 2007 COP student and project leader. “It’s amazing how this effort grew from a simple idea to a huge, supportive effort. It far exceeded everyone’s expectations.”  Seningen and fellow classmates contacted ECCO’s Jan England and Bi-Lo 409 store manager Rick Gonzales for their support. Bi-Lo coordinated the sale of holiday turkey meals complete with all the trimmings, plus dessert for elderly and needy families. Additional money was used to purchase canned vegetables and other food items to help stock ECCO’s food pantry.  ECCO is an ecumenical organization committed to serving needy residents of the East Cooper community and surroundings. Partnered with several Charleston area organizations and agencies, they provide support services and aid to indigent individuals and families. Since early November, students gave up their lunch hour to solicit donations around campus. Volunteers collected donations of 50 cents and more to benefit their holiday fundraiser. In exchange, individuals would receive a colorful turkey cut-out to symbolize their support. Each turkey cut-out recorded the name of a donor and was prominently displayed in the medical center cafeteria hallway.  “At first, we struggled,” said Seningen, who shared the idea from a previous high school service project. “But as people noticed that we asked for 50 cent starter donations, they realized just how affordable it was to reach into their pockets and give. It’s great to see the generosity of people through this project.” As the turkey wall grew, so did the donations. The cut-outs served more as a visual reminder to people about the holiday meal project and helped participants chart its success and daily progress. Early on Nov. 22, several COP class members picked-up the boxed Thanksgiving Day dinners from Bi-Lo and delivered them to the ECCO facility in Mount Pleasant.  “This donation is just what we need, especially during this time of the year,” said Jan England, ECCO client services coordinator. “Each year, ECCO provides between 400-500 turkeys and food to the elderly, disabled and families living in chronic poverty during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We really appreciate the students’ efforts to help others in the community.”     Friday, Nov. 26, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.