BY ANDRE GIBSON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
St. Bonaventure University hosted the annual Operation Christmas Child event Sunday. The event was held at the McGinley-Carney Center for Franciscan Ministry to prepare and wrap toys and gifts that were brought in by the community to be donated. Students and faith members gathered to wrap presents, write letters, and decorate the building.
Mike Threehouse is the women’s softball coach at St. Bonaventure University and the founder of Operation Christmas Child.
“This charity was founded by a student athlete that came up to me one day and asked ‘how we can do our part to help the community?’” said Threehouse. “To give back to the community that helps us so much here at the university. They provide a tremendous spark to our spirit.”
Threehouse visited the event Sunday evening and shared his thoughts on what Operation Christmas Child means to him.
“I am very happy with how the student athletes and the students themselves get involved to help make this cause possible,” said Threehouse. “The deliveries that are prepared are shipped out to cities such as Olean, Buffalo, Rochester and even internationally shipped to countries such as Mexico and Russia.”
Operation Christmas Child has a reach that extends past the Olean community and physical donations. Treehouse encourages all manner of kind acts.
“People come first; all it takes is one generous act to make a complete difference for somebody,” said Threehouse. “Taking care of the people around us and cherishing what we have is important to our happiness.”
For more information on how to get involved with university ministries, students can talk to Amanda Naujoks or Alice Miller Nation who are located at the McGinley-Carney Center.
gibsona21@bonaventure.edu
