Binghamton University students will be drinking Red Bulls and pulling all-nighters the week before finals, but the Student Association hopes they’ll take a break to spread a little holiday cheer to the Binghamton community.

The SA is holding their 18th annual Holiday Drive, which raises money in order to purchase gifts to benefit local families in need.

Departments and organizations across BU’s campus have been registering to provide holiday gifts to disadvantaged families with young children in the Binghamton school district.

‘The fact that we are directly benefiting families in the Binghamton area makes this opportunity unique,’ said SA President David Bass. ‘We can do so much for the area. It has certainly been my emphasis this year to get students involved in the Binghamton community.’

When a group registers to help with the drive, they’ll receive a family profile which provides the number of members of the family, as well as the gender and age of the children in the family they are sponsoring. Each group participating must raise a minimum of $20 per family member.

Along with the family profile, a list of the family’s needs and wishes is also provided. Using this list, the participants purchase gifts for each family member, which will be collected by the SA on Dec. 7.

In past years, between 125 and 155 local family members have received holiday gifts through the drive.

‘So far, based on the number of groups registered, 55 family members will receive gifts, but the registration only just began,’ said David Belsky, director of communications for the SA.

The drive will end on Dec. 7 when participants will bring their purchased gifts to one central location to be sorted. The closing of the drive will also serve as the SA’s holiday party, to which participants of the drive are invited.

Registration to participate in this year’s Holiday Drive ends on Monday, Nov. 19. A sign-up sheet is available on the SA’s Web site, sa.binghamton.edu.

‘All students should be involved in charity, especially during college,’ Belsky said. ‘The Holiday Drive is a great opportunity for BU students to make an impact on Binghamton that will last longer than just the four years they are here.’