The UAlbany STEP Club shows it appreciation this month by getting festive. The club created gingerbread houses for the elderly. The activity was facilitated  by Albany High School teacher Ellen Mall-John, and STEP Coordinator, Amir Gilmore. Mrs. Mall-John usually makes gingerbread houses for the elderly, but wanted the student staff and students this year to partake in the fun.

The project was a huge success. It brought students and staff closer together as they very carefully had to build the gingerbread without them falling apart. The joy that came to the faces of students and staff, astonished me as a supervisor, for everyone was engaged! It is such a wonderful feeling that people are eager and willing to contribute back to their community.

The gingerbread houses that were built were placed in a contest by students and staff and were voted on within the club. It was truly overall a good event, and the club would love to do something like this again. Happy Holidays Everyone!

The month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a international campaign created by major breast cancer charities to promote awareness of the disease, raise funds for the cause and prevention and in addition to provide support to those that have been affected by breast cancer.

To promote awareness and raise funds for breast cancer, the UAlbany STEP Club decided to fundraise during the month of October within Albany High School. The idea was created by Albany High School faculty member, Ellen Mall-John, who is a survivor of the disease. Mc'Kayla, a STEP Club student, coordinated with Mrs. Mall-John, on what to fundraise, and who we should donate the funds to.

The initiative got everyone together, students and teachers, and tutors. They were all doing something to contribute, which was truly a great feeling. We made breast cancer awareness ribbons and keychains and in addition to that we made a giant card that was filled with words of inspiration and stories from students whose family members were affected by breast cancer.

Another touching memory from fundraising was who we received the funds from. Majority of the funds were from High School students that donated whatever they had to contribute to our fundraising. It was warming to see young people being engaged, involved and giving back to a great cause like this.

The collected funds are to be given to the New York Oncology Hematology Cancer Center in Albany, NY.