week 14
Holiday wreaths at USU help support community
By Cassidy Stephens
The Utah State University Campus Store is holding its fourth annual silent wreath auction now through Dec. 3. The public can view and place a bid on the wreaths at the USU Campus Store window in the Glen L. Taggart Student Center.
Each year the Campus Store buys wreaths to give to departments across campus and some in Cache Valley. Groups such as USU Athletics, USU Alumni Center and Together Everyone Achieves More – an after-school program at Logan High School, volunteered to decorate the wreaths.
All the proceeds will be given to the Cache Valley Food Pantry to help people in the community.
“I think it’s a really easy way to donate to a good cause,” said Liz Wilson, a marketing assistant for the USU Alumni Center.
The alumni center staff worked together to come up with ideas and went shopping to purchase the supplies to decorate the wreaths.
“It took us about two hours to go to a couple of stores. Then it took us about an hour and a half to put it all together. So it really wasn’t bad,” Wilson said.
Wilson said this was her first time participating in the event.
“I really enjoyed doing this,” Wilson said. “If you think about it, these wreaths can be used for years to come. These people that purchase them can always remember the money that they donated. So basically, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.”
Jason Brown, the general merchandise and marketing manager for the USU Campus Store, said they got the idea from Ohio State University which does a similar auction. He said every year the event gets bigger and more popular.
Tables are set up in front of the wreath display for people to place their bid. The highest bidder will be notified at the end of the silent auction and will be able to pick up their wreath.
“This is the busiest time of year for the food pantry during the holiday season,” Brown said. “So for us to be able to give them money that they can use, it is going to make their job a little easier.”
Service in Cache Valley 