Christmas in April workers during a past rebuilding day

Christmas in April, a national housing organization, has been active in St. Mary’s County for sixteen years, helping renovate over 473 homes, 12 community nonprofit facilities and bringing together over 25,100 volunteers through the years. St. Mary’s College has been involved with the local chapter since its inception, providing working hands and open hearts to many families.

 
 23 homes chosen for rebuilding this April

An estimated 35 college students will begin hammering, scrubbing, and painting on the rebuilding day, April 29, to improve a home for a low-income home owner who doesn’t have the means or support to make the repairs. This year St. Mary’s College Christmas in April volunteers have chosen a home with a special connection to the college community – it belongs to the mother of a public safety officer who works at the college.

“The goal in the months prior to the big day is to raise enough money to uphold our promise to the program. It is this aspect which we depend not only on the college community for support, but that of the surrounding community as well,” explained Elizabeth McNichols, president of St. Mary’s College Roteract Club.

“St. Mary’s College makes a large commitment to the community to be considered a County Builder, which requires a donation of at least $2,500,” said Courtney Williams, who is secretary for the St. Mary’s College Chapter of Christmas in April. “Our goal this year is to far surpass the required donation based on the community taking on more houses than they had originally planned.”

 
 Over 35 SMCM students expected to help this year

This year, St. Mary’s College Christmas in April took on three additional houses for renovation.

The largest fundraising event for the St. Mary’s College Chapter of Christmas in April is its annual auction. This year the auction will be held on Friday, Feb. 24. The silent auction will take place from 4-7 p.m. in the Campus Center on South Campus, and the Live Auction to begin at 7 p.m. in Daugherty-Palmer Commons. Both auctions are open to the campus and public and donations of items to be auctioned are tax-deductible.

“Items are donated both from individuals on campus and the community at large, and can vary greatly from very valuable, to only valuable to St. Mary’s College students. For example in the past people have paid a lot of money to own one of Dean Michael Freeman’s sweaters, or have their bike tuned by Dennis Poremski, the Director of the Athletics and Recreation Center. Additionally, however, the traditional auction items are needed, jewelry, autographed books by professors, and gift certificates to stores and restaurants in the area,” said Courtney.

“We hope for an excellent turnout this year, the current executive board of Rotaract has been involved in Christmas in April since we came to St. Mary’s, and it is near and dea