Holiday outreach service initiatives planned

Members of the University community will have the opportunity to share the holiday spirit through a series of community service initiatives and special events planned for December and January.

Collection drives for food, personal hygiene products and other items

A holiday "A Cappella Jam and Toy Drive" featuring student performances will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, on the Palmer Square Green. Scheduled to appear are: Acapellago, Juggling Club, the Katzenjammers, Kindred Spirit, Nassoons, Princeton Footnotes, Princeton University Ballet, Princeton University Rock Ensemble, Shere Khan, Sympoh, Tigerlilies, Tigertones and Tigressions. The event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to the YWCA Princeton St. Nicholas Project. 

The organizers of a "Holiday Hoops" food drive will offer fans two opportunities to receive free admission to a Princeton University basketball game: Sunday, Dec. 6, the Princeton women host Michigan at 4 p.m. in Jadwin Gym and Thursday, Dec. 17, the Princeton men play Liberty at 7 p.m. in Jadwin Gym. All donations go to support the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank.

Through Wednesday, Dec. 16, donations of nonperishable food items and personal hygiene products for the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank will be collected at several campus sites: New South, A Level; C232 Engineering Quadrangle; Jadwin Gym; Helm Building; MacMillan Building; Robertson Hall; West College; Lewis Thomas Lab; Nassau Hall, Room 9; 200 Elm Drive; 185 Nassau St.; Guyot Hall, atrium and Room 112; Digital Print Center, 201 Nassau St.; 22 Chambers St.; Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory; 701 Carnegie Center; Lewis Library, Room 335; two locations at 171 Broadmead (University Now Nursery School and Office of Information Technology); 693 Alexander Road; Jadwin Hall; Andlinger Center Room 113 and the 100 level of Frist. 

The following items are especially needed: canned protein (tuna, sardines, salmon and chicken); low-sodium soups; canned fruit (in 100 percent juice); whole grains; canned vegetables (spinach, carrots, yams, peas and tomatoes); rice; whole-grain pasta; pasta sauce; beans; nuts; crackers; gravy; herbs or spices; vinegar; mustard; Parmalat or other shelf-stable milk; cereals (Fiber One, Cheerios); salad dressing (nonsugar); peanut butter; jelly; dish and laundry detergent; soaps and body wash; deodorant; shampoo; conditioner; and feminine products. 

University community members also may support the Send Hunger Packing Program, which provides school-aged children in need with nutritionally sound, easy-to-open meals to get them through the weekend. Items needed include shelf-stable 2 percent reduced-fat milk in an eight-ounce, single-serving size; cereal (individual bowls or boxes); ready-to-eat tuna with or without crackers; microwaveable entrees or bowls; peanut butter in jars or individual cups; grape jelly in plastic containers; yogurt smoothie drinks in shelf-stable brick packs; granola bars; and shelf-stable pudding cups.

Additionally, campus and local nonprofit groups are participating in initiatives to collect donations including books, games, gift certificates, food, personal care items, toys, winter jackets and sleepwear. Participating organizations are Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton, Senior Care Ministry of Princeton, HomeFront, One Simple Wish, Princeton Human Services, Princeton Nursery School, Princeton Young Achievers, SAVE, Trenton Community Music School, the YWCA Princeton St. Nicholas Project and Womanspace. For more information about these organizations and donations needed, visit the Community and Regional Affairs website or contact Erin Metro at 609-258-5144 or emetro@princeton.edu.

Additional efforts

In addition, community members can start saving men's and women's business attire for the annual gently used clothing drive planned for January. Details will be announced at a later date.

The outreach initiatives are sponsored by the Office of Community and Regional Affairs, the Graduate School, the Department of Athletics, the Facilities Organization, and Conference and Event Services.