A Look at UHart's Holiday Giving Program
There are many ways to help people and spread hope and happiness, while at the same time feeling good about giving back.
The University of Hartford offers community members the chance to do just that through its Holiday Giving Program, managed by the Office of Student Engagement and Inclusion (OSEI), with valuable support from the Office of Residential Life, Department of Public Safety, and University’s Staff Council. UHart’s Holiday Giving Program has been aiding those who require various levels of assistance (including some UHart students) for more than a decade.
“Holiday Giving has been a core piece of what our office does for quite a while now, and we are passionate about it,” shares Susan Coster, assistant director of Student Equity and Community Engagement within OSEI. “And because of our history and what we are able to accomplish, many members of the University community look forward to supporting the program every holiday season as a way to give back to the community.”
Of the four organizations that currently receive donations from the Holiday Giving Program, UHart has had a longstanding relationship with two of them: South Park Inn and The Village for Families and Children.
“Supporting South Park Inn actually began as a student project when housing insecurity was rapidly increasing in Connecticut,” Coster explains. That was 15 years ago. “It’s a special relationship that exists to this day.”
Two other groups, The Nosh and the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford, came on board later. In fact, The Nosh food pantry is located at UHart in the Gengras Student Union (GSU) 341 and officially opened in October.
There are four campus collection sites for toys, gift cards, food, household items, and personal hygiene supplies: the GSU Information Desk, Office of Residential Life, University Commons, and Public Safety Dispatch office from 8 a.m.–7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1—5 p.m. on weekends. Some locations have earlier times in both the morning and evening. Public Safety Dispatch accepts donations around the clock, all week long.
Here’s a recap of the four organizations benefiting from the initiative, along with what is being collected.
South Park Inn was established in 1982 to provide a broad range of programs and services to people who have endured the challenges of homelessness and are starting to return to domestic stability. The agency’s goal is to provide a safe, temporary living space while the transitions are made. Learn more about South Park Inn and what specific items they need, including clothing, gently used or new coats, socks, soap and toothpaste, and other personal hygiene items.
The Village for Families & Children, whose official mission is “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children,” was one of the first agencies of its kind. Today, in addition to providing housing, they continue to provide a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment, and support services for children, adults, and families. Clients would benefit from monetary donations, as well as gift cards to Walmart, Target, Stop & Shop, and Dollar Tree.
The Nosh, a sanctioned Connecticut food share pantry located at UHart, provides nonperishable frozen food, fresh produce, toiletries, paper goods, and cleaning supplies to UHart students and staff. The effort uses the motto “Food from the Hart,” which is both expressive and quite fitting. Needed donations include canned fruits and vegetables, pasta and rice, granola bars, and cookies, as well as daily personal care items.
The Boys & Girls Club of Hartford has provided a positive environment for children and teens throughout Connecticut’s capital city for more than a century and a half. Helping local youth reach their full potential as active, productive, considerate, and responsible young citizens has always been the organization’s goal. This year for Howie’s Holiday Toy Drive benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford, the goal is to collect unwrapped toys and fast food gift cards.
This year’s Holiday Giving campaign runs through Tuesday, December 6, which is the final day donations can be accepted. There’s still plenty of time—and plenty of hope and happiness to spread around—before the deadline.