For the fourth consecutive year, members of IUP’s Rho Tau Chi military service fraternity along with university staff members, will continue their annual tradition of making the holiday season brighter for homeless veterans in both Indiana County and parts of western Pennsylvania.
The university announced in a press release that the Homeless Veterans Stocking Project is underway, and up to 1,833 stockings are currently being distributed across Indiana as well as 11 neighboring counties.
Kristin Squires, a sophomore nursing major and founder of the project, said in a press release that she was determined to go through with the effort this year despite the pandemic. She also said that normally 200 volunteers would create stockings over the course of several nights, however, 32 volunteers this year produced more than 1,600 stockings in under four hours.
Squires was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and, while she has not been a part of active duty, she has worked with several veterans over the years, and sees it as an opportunity in pursuing her career goal of helping people.
Donations will be accepted through December 31st, and anyone interested in either donating to the campaign or volunteering can find out more on Facebook or by emailing Squires at ksquires@iup.edu.
Below are photos of this year’s efforts, courtesy of IUP:
(Stockings loaded for distribution)
Kristin Squires, a sophomore nursing major and Westmoreland County native, stands with a box of stockings.
Stocking assembly line at IUP.
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