Two Empire student groups (IMA-accounting and ELSA-paralegal) exemplified the true meaning of the holidays by coordinating a food drive for the Redwood Empire Food Bank on campus. Although a competition between the two groups, the real winners were the families who had food for the holidays.

"Thank you to everyone for donating cans for this special cause," said Michelle Morris, president of ELSA. "All the food stayed here locally and went to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. It was amazing to see just how caring and giving the students here at Empire are. We (as a school) donated 806 lbs of food, with more than 1000 items." 

Sooooo, this was a contest and you probably want to know who won. CONGRATS IMA!!!! With 30 seconds on the clock, they had a last minute donation that put them over the top!!! Congratulations to Tracy Gray, IMA president, and her team of accountants who did a wonderful job.
 
In addition to the food drive, Empire's IMA students participated in various fund raisers and went shopping for requested gifts for the Giving Tree. Through their Holiday Bake Sale and and Soup Delight events, they raised and donated $242 to the Giving Tree. "Although perhaps it is not a large sum, the experience of working together and giving to others was well worth their effort," says Carol Reinke, Empire's Accounting Department Head.