Students 'shuffle' for charity

2nd annual Valentine's Day Shuffle sends message of inspiration

By Jackie Zimmermann, Staff Writer

February 17, 2008 | 10:24 p.m.

For many, the years of creating hand-made valentines are gone, but, on the eve of Valentine's day, members of various communications organizations were able to break out the markers and glitter-glue and craft inspirational cards for women in need.

The second-annual Valentine’s Day Shuffle provided communications students the opportunity to reach out to women at My Sister’s Place, a shelter for women suffering from domestic abuse.

Members of the organizations donated a variety of items, including lotions, diapers, shower puffs and soaps. The donations were organized into five large tubs to be delivered to the shelter. Each group also contributed a notebook filled with inspirational messages encouraging the women to stay strong.

Communications students packed into Scripps 114, which resulted in a turnout that rivaled that of last year’s inaugural shuffle. While making the cards, attendees got to enjoy complimentary pizza and chips while rocking out to music provided by ACRN, who set up their sound system at the head of the classroom.

“It was great to see students from all the different communications clubs coming together for a good cause,” said junior communications major Hannah Menke.

Even though the idea for the shuffle came from the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), all of the communications organizations on campus really took the cause to heart.

"It was kind of our brainchild," PRSSA president Mary Miller said. "We brought it to the College of Communications, and everyone wanted to get involved."

Now all of the groups actively help organize and implement the event, she said.

Miller felt that the shuffle’s success said a lot about the students at Ohio University.

“It really shows that we care about the community,” she said.

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