The holidays can be stressful. Between buying gifts, cleaning your home and cooking feasts in the kitchen, it’s hard to think of anything besides your to-do list. But it’s also the time of year to take a moment to be grateful.
If you are searching for easy ways to give back this season, look no further. We’ve compiled a few opportunities to pay it forward on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.
The Department of Family Medicine, through the newly established Diversity & Health Equity Program, will be supporting Casa de Paz, an organization that provides hospitality and support to immigrants in the Aurora detention center and to those who have recently been released.
Items needed:
Email Tessa Carlson, Tessa.Carlson@cuanschutz.edu, for a complete list and for volunteer opportunities. There will be a collection bin for items, and an envelope for gift cards and cash, in the main lobby of the DFM (in AO1, third floor). Please have all donations in by Monday, Dec. 30.
Become a Food Pantry Champion today!
The Student Food Pantry has a monthly request for items. If you would like to sign up to be a “food pantry champion”, please complete this form. You will then pick up a bag that has the list of wanted items each month. Collect the needed items in the bag, bring it back to the Campus Student Services office and they will swap them out for a new empty bag.
Contact Kara Garr, Kara.Garr@cuanschutz.edu, for more information.
The Department of Psychiatry’s Holiday Giving Drive is sponsoring five families in need. The families are dealing with issues of abuse, neglect and other problems, and they may not receive gifts this holiday season.
Items needed:
Drop off donations outside the second- and fourth-floor elevators of the Fitzsimons Building by Friday, Dec. 13.
The College of Nursing is collecting gifts for Denver CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which helps children impacted by abuse or neglect, particularly those who find themselves in out-of-home placements.
Unwrapped or wrapped gifts in the $20-$40 range can be dropped off to Stephanie Salazar (ED2N office 3321) or Stefanie Brown (ED2N 3317) by Dec. 11.
Please let them know if you are interested in helping by Nov. 26 using this link. They will provide you with information regarding the name, age, interests and needs of a CASA child by Nov. 27.
The Biostatistics Student Association (BSA) in the Colorado School of Public Health holds its third annual winter donation drive from Dec. 2-13. This year, BSA will collect donations to create hygiene kits for the Denver Rescue Mission. One of the most difficult things for people facing homelessness is having regular access to full bathrooms, thus, BSA asks for donations of travel-sized essentials such as toothbrushes, deodorant and feminine hygiene products. The items can be dropped off at the donation box located at the entrance to the Biostatistics & Informatics Department, located in the Fitzsimons Building, fourth floor, west wing.
The Physical Therapy Program hosts a clothing drive for Aurora Warms the Night. Warm clothes and coats can be dropped off until Jan. 31 in box locations at the west entrance of the Fitzsimons Building, the main entrance of the Strauss Health Sciences Library, Education 1 and Education 2 North and South.