There are many organizations in the Statesboro area that assist individuals throughout the community that are struggling with food insecurities, financial needs and other needs. These organizations assist at any time during the year. Many people feel a sense of charity and giving during the holidays, realizing how fortunate they are and deciding to help those who may be struggling.
One program that focuses on a variety of needs for members of our community along with determining what those less fortunate want as well as need is the Georgia Southern Holiday Helper Tree.
Eileen Sconyers Smith along with colleague Victoria DuRee at Georgia Southern University co-founded the Holiday Helper Tree in September of 1994. The late DuRee was a project coordinator with the Georgia Southern Office of Volunteer Services, a department that is known now as the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement.
“Victoria approached the Sociology and Anthropology Department in late September of 1994 with questions about helping people in our community. Since we offered a degree program with emphasis in social work/social services, it seemed logical for her to do so. She had recently received a list of names of individuals in need from a couple of local social service agencies. The agencies were asking if Georgia Southern Volunteer Services could help them in any way,” said Sconyers Smith.
DuRee felt that because of the concentration of the department, the Sociology Department would be the best place to start the search for a leader for the project.
At the time, Sconyers Smith (now retired) was the Senior Administrative Assistance for the department. Her coworkers in the department were already working on other service projects and did not feel that they had the time to dedicate to a new project, must less the creation of one, but Sconyers Smith was up for the challenge.
“I agreed to take on the challenge. I was looking for a way to become involved in community…
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