Volunteers ‘brighten9 holidays
By Frale de Guzman
Or the Emerald
Christmas is the season for
spreading holiday cheer, singing
carols, giving gifts and spending time
with friends and loved ones.
Holiday Project, a non-profit
organization, attempts to brighten the
holidays for people who can't spend
Christmas with loved ones by taking
volunteers from the community to visit
patients in nursing homes and
hospitals.
About 30 people volunteered to take
part in the program last year, visiting
local hospitals and nursing homes
such as Good Samaritan and Pleasant
Valley on Christmas day. says Joy Gall,
coordinator of Holiday Project.
“We sing songs, talk to people and
give out gifts of Christmas cards. We
also urge the volunteers to get over
their apprehension of the patients by
touching them," Gall says. “And this
was a great way of bridging the gap
between them."
The 1,000 cards distributed to the
patients were made by first grade
children at Edgewood Elementary and
other local primary and seconday
schools. Elementary children from
Veneta and Coburg also have offered to
make cards to give to the patients. Gall
says.
Making the cards gives children
“the opportunity to' learn about the
people in the nursing homes and
hospitals and shows them what they
can do to help." she says. “Also, it's
nice to hand something to someone
you don't know.”. “
Volunteers are divided into gro.ups
and spend between one and two hours
at their assigned locations. Because of
the lack of volunteers, people are
unable to spend much time at one loca
tion. But despite this fact, patients
often treasure their visits, Gall says.
“The people seem to be real touch
ed,” Gall says. “It brings back lots of
memories. They talk about their
families and what they used to do at
Christmas while others sing along with
us, and it‘s all very touching.”
The patients are not the only ones
who are affected by this act of good
will, Gall says.
“People get in touch with feelings
that at other times they wouldn’t
acknowledge,” she says.
Volunteers often experience various
emotions ranging from joy to sorrow,
and because feelings are a part of the
person, volunteers are often told to
take their feelings with them when
they go to visit. Gall says.
“Being with somebody is the biggest
contribution anyone can make.” Gall
says.
The effects of the Holiday Project are
felt by everyone, especially by the
volunteers who participate in the
visits. Gall says.
"I'm very glad to be a part of the pro
gram,” Gall says. “I learned that 1 can
be a gift to other people by just being
there and sharing myself. And to ac
tually be there on Christmas day and
realize that you made some difference
in their * lives really makes my
Christmas.” she adds.
The program, which began in
Eugene on Dec. 25, 1981,- has con
tinued to flourish. More volunteers are
■sas'
Jay Gall
expected to show up this year because
more people are in the Christmas mood
and are “truly in the sharing spirit,"
Gall says.
This year, volunteers will meet at
Benjamin Franklin Savings and U>an,
201 E. Ilth Ave.. at 12:30 p.m. “Anyone
interested in taking part in the Holiday
Project can contact joy Gall ‘at
687*9055 or Graham Lewis. evenings
only, at 342-1505.
Forum to address
‘darker* side of
contemporary drama
The dark aide of drama, as seen in
American theaterical productions writ
ten during the 1970s. is mom significant
than its lack of popular success in
dicated. says Grant McKernie, head of
the University speech department,
In a University Forum lecture on Tues
day. McKemle. who is also director of
University Theater, will show why the
more controversial works of four con
temporary playwrights were better than
they seamed when first introduced to
American theater-goers.
His talk. “Theater and Culture in the
1970s and 1980s: Reflections of America
in the Drama," will begin at 8 p m. in
the Kugone Conference Center, adjacent
to the Hilton Hotel.
McKernie will review the popular suc
cesses of Neil Simon as well as the dif
ficult but dramatically significant plays
of Sam Shepard, David Kobe and
Stephen Sondheim,
The number of new American plays
introduced on Broadway dropped, and
audience interest in live theater was
salvaged “only by nostalgic productions
of old plays," McKernie says.
“My goal is to make people mom
■ware of why these playwrights sudden- .*
ly became so dark in their vision, so
I • forceful in their language and so
violent." McKernie says.
“The new plays were • more than* :
thought-provoking — they were offen
sive." he adds. “When theater bacame
despairing and apocalyptic.- audiences, •
['• turned away from it." • /
A member of the University faculty
since 1979. McKernie has led['University’’
Theater productlp.n to .national
prominence. .
KATE BUSH ®
HOUNOS OF LOVE
Hvmi r*§? «v «km» m < cm
• • *« e • • •
ARCADIA
ARCADIA
So rted The Rose
• on '
CAPITOt ftocofd* 4 Tapct
KATE BUSH
Hounds of Love
Available on
EMI Record* & Tapes
Sale prices good through 12-21-85
Quantities limited to stock on hand.
SHEENA EASTON
DO YOU D
»MT|«S SSlIfWlM MfilCVlM
SHEENA EASTON
Do You
Available on
EMI Records & Tapes
Across (be Stiaet (rom thi> U of O Bookstore
886 E. 13th • EUGENE • 345-1010