Local church volunteers with the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association spent the morning filling more than 100 care packages that will be delivered to UNC Pembroke students who cannot make it home for the holidays.

Members of the Women’s Missionary Leadership team loaded each shoebox-size storage container with snacks, hot cocoa, ramen noodles, personal hygiene items and other goodies.

Since 2017, the university’s Police and Public Safety has partnered with the association and Unilever to brighten the holidays for UNCP students as part of the Holiday Care Package Drive.

“It makes us feel good to know that we are making a difference,” said Patricia Hagans, a volunteer. “The first year we did it, they explained how grateful the students were to receive the care packages and to know that someone was willing to take time and do something special for them.”

Campus police officers will begin delivering the packages the week before Christmas.