Outreach

Pay it forward: 2 ways to give back locally in the new year

Written by 

2019 donation drive streamThe beginning of the year is the perfect time to decide how to give back to the community during the next 12 months, and both the UAB Graduate School and the UAB Staff Council are hosting donation drives to support local organizations.

The Graduate School is hosting a donation drive through Jan. 31 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama, a nonprofit organization that provides housing for families and their children receiving long-term medical treatment at Children’s of Alabama, UAB or other area hospitals. In 2017, the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provided 618 families nearly 900 stays during their children’s treatment. RMH also operates the Happy Wheels cart, a hospitality program that provides snacks, juice boxes, water and activity books to patients and their families in two of UAB Hospital’s outpatient clinics.

Join The Graduate School and and Graduate Student Government 4:30-6 p.m. Jan. 10 on the ground floor of Lister Hill Library for a hot cocoa and cookie bar, games and informational materials on RMH.

“The Ronald McDonald House plays such an important role in the lives of patients and their families,” said Lori McMahon, Ph.D., dean of The Graduate School. “We’re excited to give back to a group that gives so much already.”

Donations can be dropped off during the kickoff event or in The Graduate School office in Lister Hill Library G03.

The Ronald McDonald House hopes to acquire specific items:
  • 55-gallon black trash bags
  • Disposable food service gloves
  • Paper plates, bowls and plastic utensils
  • Paper towels and napkins
  • Coffee cups
  • Dishwasher detergent and dish soap
  • Resealable plastic bags
  • Reusable plastic containers
  • 8-oz. bottled water
  • Small juice boxes
  • Coffee creamer, sugar and artificial sweetener
  • Individually wrapped Rice Krispies Treats and snack-size Goldfish crackers, Cheez-Its and fruit snacks

The UAB Staff Council is partnering with the Birmingham Education Foundation to help Birmingham city schools beat the mid-year supply slump with a New Year, New Supplies drive Jan. 7-Feb. 14. The Birmingham Education Foundation (Ed) is dedicated to increasing the number of students in the Birmingham City Schools that are on the path to college, career and life readiness. 

“Oftentimes, midway through the school year, teachers and classrooms start noticing a real need for supplies, but that need is often overlooked,” said Dave Beeching, chair of the Staff Council. “We’re hoping to harness the power of the UAB community and give back to our local students by partnering with the Ed Foundation.”

Donations can be given to Staff Council representatives. The Ed Foundation also accepts monetary donations; checks should be made out to the Birmingham Education Foundation, with "UAB Staff Council Supply Drive" noted in the memo section.

The Ed Foundation hopes to acquire specific items:
  • Five-subject and composition notebooks
  • Three-ring pocket folders
  • Two-inch binders
  • Steno pads
  • Gridded graph paper
  • Loose leaf paper
  • Construction paper
  • 3.5-inch notecards
  • Colored pencils
  • Crayons
  • Washable markers
  • Dry erase markers
  • Pencils
  • Black or blue ink pens
  • Glue sticks
  • Clear pencil pouches
  • Safety scissors
  • Mesh or clear plastic book bags
  • Disinfectant spray and wipes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Tissues, paper towels and baby wipes
  • Resealable plastic bags
Published in Get Involved
back to top
Archives Subscribe Request Publicity