Delicious scents filled the air during the Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) holiday brunch as faculty prepared breakfast while their students got into the spirit by decorating the class tree and wrapped gifts for two families in the community that they adopted. This end of the year event allows students to spend time with one another to provide a relaxing environment before the pressures of exam week intrude. This year, students also chose to reach out to fellow PTA students in Florida.

Following the devastation from Hurricane Michael, the class began thinking about how to help fellow PTA students at Gulf Coast State College after its campus sustained major damage on October 20. ChattState students raised money during their fall bake sale and voted to purchase Walmart gift cards for Gulf Coast State College PTA students who not only suffered damage to their building but for many who lost their jobs as a result of the hurricane as well.

When PTA students shared the needs of the Gulf Coast State students with the Chattanooga district of TPTA (Tennessee Physical Therapy Association), the district contributed money to the effort as well. By helping others in need, PTA students experienced the good feeling that comes from a giving spirit during this holiday season.