Instead of the usual holiday party with too many guilty indulgences, the ACC/CCC Alumni Association will forego the festivities and give the sweet treats to those who might otherwise not get the chance to stuff themselves with holiday goodies.

Nancy Ranieri, director of alumni affairs for Cayuga Community College, is collecting cookies until noon Thursday. Later that day, she and two other women in the office plan to motor the cookies over to the Cayuga Home for Children and Ranieri's hoping for more than they can carry.

Edward Myers Hayes, executive director of the non-profit was thrilled to hear the agency will be the recipient for the holiday spirit of giving. Ranieri worked with Hayes through committees and believed his organization could put the sugary donations to good use.

Each season, there always seemed to be people saying they couldn't eat any more goodies, and she thought there must be people who don't get special treats, Ranieri said.

She sent notices to facility and students at both the Auburn and Fulton campuses asking they drop off homemade or store bought cookies and treats to give to the children Thursday.

“This is a taste of Christmas for them,” she said. And part of the fun of Christmas is the special packaging.

Ranieri asks participants to bring their cookies in disposable containers so she can then put them into baskets and boxes topped with bows.

“It made more sense than just another holiday (mixer). It's more in the holiday sense of giving,” she said.

People can bring the sweet treats to the Nucor Room on the Auburn campus with a list of ingredients, in case of allergies.

“Who knows, maybe we'll see the kids on campus someday, or maybe they'll just know that someone cares,” Ranieri said.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be contacted at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net