Campus News

2023 Donations for Citations drive breaks record

Photo of Big Blue Pantry employees.
This is the eighth year for the Donations for Citations program, which helps stock Big Blue Pantry’s shelves. From left to right: Brandi Morgan, Lisa Cleveland, Jennifer Johnson, Gerald Newby, Andrew Perkins, and Jacob Johnson

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 22, 2023) — This year’s Donations for Citations drive was the largest ever, netting more than two tons of food and personal care items for UK’s Big Blue Pantry (BBP).

University of Kentucky students and employees donated more than 4,358 pounds of pantry staples, topping last year’s amount by more than 1,300 pounds. In all, 452 people took part in this year’s food drive.

This is the eighth year for the Donations for Citations program, which helps stock BBP shelves. Since its inception in 2016, nearly 21,500 pounds of food have been collected and delivered to the pantry. 

Donations for Citations enables UK students and employees who have a parking citation to pay their fee by donating to the Big Blue Pantry, an on-campus organization that works to combat hunger and food insecurity. This year’s drive began on Feb. 27 and ran through March 10. 

“We’re overjoyed (and slightly overwhelmed) at this record-setting outpouring of generosity from the UK community,” said Andrew Perkins, manager of the BBP. “Donations for Citations is our biggest event of the year, and we are incredibly thankful for the positive impact it makes for our students who are in need.”

Lance Broeking, director of UK Transportation Services, said he was pleased to see how the UK community responded.

“In fact, our department is making plans to introduce a fall Donations for Citations event, expanding this popular program to twice a year in our ongoing efforts to support the Big Blue Pantry’s mission and support our students who rely on this essential service.”

BBP accepts donations from the campus community year-round. Visit the BBP's website for information about hours of operation or to offer donations outside of this program. BBP also has an online gift fund which allows the organization to accept monetary donations that are used to purchase food items. To discuss other ways you can contribute, contact Lance Poston at lance.poston@uky.edu

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.