The INSIDER - 2021 Year End Edition

TURKEY GIVEAWAY

Pictured above: Members of the Texas College Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams, respectively, hand out turkeys at the Houston Temple Houston Temple Church of God in Christ in Tyler.

On Friday, November 19, the Texas College Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams helped to provide over 700 turkeys to local Tyler families in need. Made possible through collaboration between the Houston Temple Church of God in Christ and the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, the group served a continuous grove of cars that funneled in early that morning until approximately 1:00 P.M. The initiative was spearheaded by the Tyler NAACP President, Mr. Cedric Granberry, who also serves as a minister of the Houston Temple Church of God in Christ, as well as a member of the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Community Leadership Board.

On Wednesday, December 8, the Texas College Family gifted 200 children from 96 families with new toys for Christmas. What has now become a Christmas tradition on campus, the Angel Tree and Toy Drive is an annual initiative coordinated by the reigning Miss Texas College, and is made possible through the generous donations of students, faculty, and staff. The gifts were made available for pickup by the families in Texas College’s McKinney Hall Connector. However, this event was not a mere distribution process; instead, Miss Alyssa Pillow, the 2021 - 2022 Miss Texas College, ensured that the occasion was a family affair to not soon be forgotten. Transforming the space into a winter wonderland with Christmas décor and holiday music, Miss Pillow also arranged for the children to take photographs Santa Claus and one of his elves. While the families retrieved their gifts and posed for pictures with Santa Claus, students, faculty and staff served hot chocolate, cookies, candy canes, and other traditional Christmas treats.

ANGEL TREE TOY DRIVE

Pictured left, Miss Alyssa Pillow, the 2021-2022 Miss Texas College, poses for a photograph with Santa Claus and his elf at the event.

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