Music Staff and Faculty Community Projects

For several years, staff in the College of Music have organized and contributed to charitable causes in the community, especially during the holiday season. This resource page, created and maintained by the Music Staff Social Committee, is intended to provide information when projects are underway and expand participation to include faculty. It will be updated as projects occur.

MSU Safe Place Adopt-a-Family Program

Now through Thursday, December 11, 2025

In the past, the College of Music Staff and Faculty have assisted a family in need during the holidays through the MSU Safe Place Adopt-a-Family program, and again this year the College of Music has adopted a family of four and would like to invite all interested faculty and staff to participate.

MSU Safe Place strives to ensure the personal safety, welfare, and dignity of women, men, and children who are experiencing relationship violence and stalking in the MSU community. Their clients experience many challenges and hardships, and they recognize the importance of having as happy and normal a holiday as possible. The Adopt-a-Family program works to help make this hope a reality.

Click to view the family’s wish list at the link below:

Adopt A Family 2025

If you wish to purchase a specific gift, enter your name in the column next to the item.
Deliver the gift (wrapped or unwrapped) to the Dean’s office by Thursday, December 11 at 5pm.
If you want to purchase a gift but wish to remain anonymous, contact Shawn and she can reserve the item for you anonymously on the form.
Monetary donations can also be made to assist with purchasing gifts that are unclaimed. Contact Shawn for donation arrangements.
Contact Shawn if you have any questions about this initiative.

MSU Food Bank Drive

On November 17, 2025, ten full bags of food and other items plus $400 in cash were delivered to the MSU Student Food Bank. Thank you to all who contributed!

All staff and faculty are invited to participate in a food drive for the MSU Student Food Bank which supports more than 230 MSU students each week. Holidays can be especially challenging for students struggling financially, and helping to lessen the expense of food shopping for those in need is the goal. There are two ways to participate.

Bring in non-perishable food and household items of your choice
- See suggestions below.
- Bring all items to the Main Office beginning Monday, November 10 through Friday, November 14.
- Delivery will take place on Monday, November 17.

Make a monetary donation
- Shawn Mahorney has volunteered to coordinate monetary donations.
- To make a monetary gift, contact Shawn for information on how to send gifts via MSUFCU Member to Member or Venmo.
- Donations will be transferred to the Food Bank on Monday, November 17.

Suggested item donations (marked as “most needed” by the MSU Student Food Bank)

Cooking oils, culturally preferred spices, non-perishable snacks, baking supplies, condiments
Personal hygiene products, socks, winter hats, gloves, scarfs

Donations are not limited to the items listed above. Feel free to use other ideas you may have, and reach out to Lynne Funk with questions.