In the spirit of the season, a small group of OSUIT employees participate each December in some type of giving back to the community event. In the past, this event has included donating non-perishables to the First Methodist Church food bank, singing Christmas carols while bell-ringing for the Salvation Army at Okmulgee’s Walmart and wrapping gifts to support the Okmulgee Women’s Shelter or the Okmulgee Homeless Shelter.

This year, the group partnered with the local Okmulgee Starbucks to host a Gift Wrap event benefiting the Okmulgee Homeless Shelter. Held on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon, the event aimed to collect donations through gift wrapping, with all proceeds directed to the shelter.

Starbucks Manager Lanford “RJ” McGilbra energized the event by offering two Starbucks Swag Bags for raffle, each valued between $80 and $100. He also provided free hot chocolate for participants. The event’s generosity inspired an anonymous donor to contribute several small toys for children at the shelter. The event successfully raised $155, with additional pledges expected later in the week. All gifts and proceeds will be delivered to the Okmulgee Homeless Shelter this week.

The dedicated gift wrappers included Jamie Finch, Robin Finch, Jessica Wahnee, Chauntel Young, Kyle Gregorio, Crystal Palacioz and Randy Truelove Chalakee. The lucky winners of the Starbucks Swag Bags were Crystal Parker and Hugh Robinson. This heartwarming initiative highlights the OSUIT employees’ unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in their community during the holiday season.