Graduate students give back for the holidays
By Zoe Strozewski | Published by Dec. 19, 2018
For the second year in a row, Kristyn DiCostanzo and a team of students from the Nathan Weiss Graduate College have found a way to benefit some of the less fortunate of New Jersey. Officially titled the SLP2B Gift Back, this event will take place Dec. 20 and will focus on providing gifts to children from the Elizabeth Coalition at their annual holiday party.
The Elizabeth Coalition is a shelter dedicated to housing the homeless and giving them the aid to transition to their own housing in the future. In order to receive a gift, children at the shelter must write a letter to the student organizers, and then will consequently receive a gift in return.
“In the letters, the children introduce themselves, tell us what they’d like to be when they grow up, what their favorite subject in school is and what what they would like for a Christmas gift. In return, they receive a gift and a little letter or message from the SLP [Speech-Language Pathologist] buying the gift,” DiCostanzo said.
Last year, DiCostanzo and others involved in the effort also held an SLP2B Gift Back, but with the Boys and Girls Club in Elizabeth. The success of the first SLP2B Gift Back inspired the students to repeat the process with a different beneficiary this time around.
“I was amazed and overjoyed with last year’s turn out, but I wanted more. I always wanted to volunteer at a homeless shelter, but never really got the opportunity,” DiCostanzo said.
DiCostanzo personally sought out and reached out to the Elizabeth Coalition to coordinate the exchange.
“I went online and I googled to see if there was one [homeless shelter] in Elizabeth. I came across the coalition house,” DiCostanzo said. “Giving back isn’t as easy as it seems though. After 15 phone calls, I finally arranged to have the children participate in our gift back. We anticipate about 35 children this year.”
DiCostanzo and her team of Mia Apostle, Austin Twine and Kimberly Bowles are all part of the Speech-Language Pathology program. The name of their event, SLP2B Gift Back, comes from their common area of study, as it stands for “Speech Language Pathologist to be.”
Despite their affiliation with the Speech-Language Pathology department, the organization and fulfillment of the event was completely carried out by these students.
“Although we are a part of the program here at Kean, this is completely separate. We do not receive help or involvement from the staff and faculty. We are just a bunch of graduate students trying to give back,” DiCostanzo said. “My cohort is filled with some amazing and inspirational men and women. Each of us has a unique story, we laugh together, cry together, and we give back together.”
Apart from the aspect of simply giving each child a gift, the SLP students also hope to leave the children feeling loved and inspired.
“Our goals is simple, put a smile of the faces of each child we give back to. We only hope and wish that they feel special, cared for, and that our little notes and letters back to them help to encourage their dreams.”
DiCostanzo also believes that in the spirit of the holiday, the SLP2B Gift Back is especially important as it gives people the opportunity to give on top of receiving.
“Over the years the holidays have lost their true meaning. It seems to be not about the value of family, and has become more about gifts and material items,” DiCostanzo said. “However, these children value their family; they know the true meaning. But financially the holidays are tough, and they do not receive many, if any, gifts.”
Ultimately, this event aims to have the domino effect of the children paying forward the kindness and generosity they received from the SLP community at Kean.
“The idea and action of giving back speaks volumes. These kids see us giving back, it’s contagious; many of them will remember the experience they had and one day volunteer or give back themselves,” DiCostanzo said.