Employees at Northeast in South Sioux City donate to those in need

Bill+Garvey+Sr.%2C+co-chair+of+the+Cardinal+Christmas+Baskets+program%2C+accepts+a+check+for+%24250+from+Northeast+Community+College+representatives+Kristina+Coombs%2C+service+center+specialist+%28left%29%2C+Dr.+Cyndi+Hanson%2C+executive+director%2C+and+Cara+Watchorn%2C+student+support+specialist.+The+funds+were+raised+by+allowing+Northeast+employees+to+pay+to+wear+jeans+on+certain+Fridays+throughout+the+past+year.

Bill Garvey Sr., co-chair of the Cardinal Christmas Baskets program, accepts a check for $250 from Northeast Community College representatives Kristina Coombs, service center specialist (left), Dr. Cyndi Hanson, executive director, and Cara Watchorn, student support specialist. The funds were raised by allowing Northeast employees to pay to wear jeans on certain Fridays throughout the past year.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, NE – Casual Friday normally allows people to be a bit more comfortable in the workplace, but the gesture also allowed a few people a bit of joy over the recent holidays.

On certain Fridays over the past year, faculty and staff at Northeast Community College in South Sioux City dropped donations in a bucket in order to wear jeans on certain Fridays. The employees designated that the funds be used by a group that has been spreading holiday cheer to local citizens for nearly a decade.

The Cardinal Christmas Baskets program is a Dakota County tradition that dates back to 2008. In 2017, over two-thousand Cardinal Christmas Basket volunteers provided free meals over the holidays to families in need.

“The Cardinal Christmas Baskets program is a remarkable reflection of full community support of a common vision,” said Dr. Cyndi Hanson, executive director of Northeast Community College in South Sioux City. “We know full well the impact food insecurity has on families and the deep gratitude of those who receive the baskets. The faculty and staff at Northeast Community College are proud to support this long tradition.”

The Northeast employees contributed $250 to the Cardinal Christmas Baskets program, sponsored by the South Sioux City Community Fund.