Donations for Kent State’s annual holiday peace baskets are being accepted at Student Center Room 250 from Nov. 25 until noon Friday. Baskets will be assembled Saturday, Dec. 7.

Some of the items that are donated include toiletries, small toys, socks, gloves, hats, scarves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, household items and school supplies.

Volunteers are needed from noon to 3 p.m. Friday to prepare for the basket assembly at the King-Kennedy Community Center. Volunteers are also needed to help assemble baskets and boxes at the King-Kennedy Community Center from 9-11 a.m. or from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

This year marks the 17th year of the Peace Basket Project, Barbara Boltz, a project director of enrollment data and system support, said in an email.

The yearly project was originally a service project for the Professional Women of KSU, a now inactive organization, but the service project continues, Boltz said.

“As a past president of Professional Women of KSU, it was important to me to continue the tradition,” Boltz said.

She has been the coordinator of the event for the past few years, with the help from former members, volunteers and the university.

“Last year, over 75 people were involved through donating items, knitting and crocheting hats and scarves and attending the basket assembly preparation event or the Saturday Peace Basket event,” Boltz said.

More than 130 baskets, bags and boxes benefited members of the neighborhood through the King-Kennedy Community Center. Some baskets also went to senior citizens outside the community.

“The goal of the project is to share a small gift with the community that was funded and built by Kent State students, and to let them know that we care and they are not forgotten,” Boltz said.

People create baskets for a specific family or a person.

“We let people’s imaginations run wild and we like to take small items that can fit in the baskets,” Boltz said.

People interested in donating or volunteering can contact Barbara Boltz at 330-672-1306 or [email protected] with any questions.

Contact Carolyn Pippin at [email protected].