McMaster Engineering Society raises funds in support of Interval House of Hamilton

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/santahog.jpg” caption=”A group of engineering students called the Redsuits visited classrooms and offices spreading end-of-term holiday cheer, and collecting donations in support of the Interval House of Hamilton.”]The McMaster Engineering Society (MES) held its annual “Santa Hog” campaign on Friday, Dec. 2 in support of the Interval House of Hamilton.

Every year before exams, a group of engineering students, led by the “Redsuits” – the engineering spirit leaders – visit classes and offices spreading end-of-term holiday cheer, singing carols, and collecting donations. This year the engineering students also were able to help spread awareness of the services offered by Interval House of Hamilton by distributing pamphlets provided by the centre.

Interval House of Hamilton is a non-profit agency that serves women who are in, or have been in, abusive relationships. Some of the services the agency provides include: safe residential emergency shelter/housing, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (includes all meals, emergency clothing and personal needs); outreach services; legal advocacy services; confidential crisis telephone counselling; as well as child and youth counselling.

In the six hours the students spent “hogging”, they raised more than $1,750. This represents a significant increase over the amount raised last year, and more than double the amount raised two years ago, in spite of the fact that this year's “hogging” was limited mostly to engineering classes, unlike in previous years. The MES was mindful that other faculties preferred not to participate in this campaign. Santa Hog is normally accompanied by a food drive, but this year the MES opted for a clothing drive, as part of the campus wide clothing drive.

“Thank you to all the students, faculty, and staff who donated to this campaign, and to the professors who agreed to have their classes participate in Santa Hog,” says Paula Claudino, MES president and fifth-year mechanical engineering and management student. “Thank you, also, to the staff at the Silhouette for once again donating the cost of an ad for Santa Hog. Finally, thank you to McMaster Security Services for providing a co-op student to accompany the engineering students during their campaign to ensure that everyone remained safe.”

For more information about the McMaster Engineering Society, visit: http://mes.mcmaster.ca. For more information about the services provided by Interval House of Hamilton, visit http://www.intervalhousehamilton.org. If you have been a victim of abuse or feel there is a safety risk for you or your children, call the Interval House of Hamilton crisis line at 905-387-8881.

(This article was written by Daniel Borrelli, MES executive secretary, Paula Claudino, MES president and Steve Quinlan, MES vice-president internal)