Donations for Citations is back Feb. 27
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2023) — The annual Donations for Citations program is just around the corner. This year’s drive starts on Monday, Feb. 27, and runs through Friday, March 10. Donations for Citations helps stock the shelves at University of Kentucky's Big Blue Pantry.
UK students and employees who have a regular ($30) parking citation can pay their fee during this two-week period by donating food or personal care items to Big Blue Pantry (BBP). Ten food items or five personal care items will waive one regular citation of $30 or less.
Regular citations do not include immobilizations, impoundments, parking in fire lanes, ADA accessible parking violations or improper application or use of parking permits. Customers with unpaid citations must also pay any other outstanding citations to have one waived under this program. Citations waived through the drive are not eligible for appeal.
Participating is easy. Simply bring your donations to Transportations Services' customer care center, located at 721 Press Avenue. The customer care center is open from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“Donations for Citations is always a staff favorite in our department,” said Lance Broeking, director of UK Transportation Services. “This campus food drive gives our staff a chance to turn something negative (a citation) into something positive by helping combat food insecurity.”
This will be the eighth year that UK Transportation Services has partnered with Big Blue Pantry, an on-campus organization that works to combat hunger and food insecurity for UK students. Since its inception in 2016, Donations for Citations has delivered over 16,500 pounds of food and personal care items to the pantry.
"We’re so grateful for Donations for Citations and the partnership with UK Transportation Services," said Andrew Perkins, program coordinator for Big Blue Pantry. "The generous donations we receive from this annual drive fill the pantry shelves for months - that's a tremendous impact in our fight against food insecurity."
This year, BBP is asking for the following food and personal care items. However, please note that only shelf-stable items (nothing that must be refrigerated) can be donated.
Suggested Food Donation Items:
Boxed macaroni; noodles; pasta sauce (red or white); rice (white, brown, box, or bag); cereal; instant oatmeal; granola bars; pop tarts or other grab-n-go breakfast items; canned meats such as chicken, tuna, beef, pork, or vegetarian alternatives; individual cups of fruit or applesauce; shelf-stable microwave meals; peanut butter; condiments; jellies; shelf-stable salad dressing
Please note: Expired, damaged, or opened donations will not be accepted. In addition, refrigerated items or those in glass containers will not be accepted.
Suggested Personal Care Items:
Cleaning supplies (detergent, dish soap, etc.); toilet paper; paper towels; hand sanitizer; body soap; shampoo and conditioner; shaving cream; razors; tampons or sanitary pads; first aid or medical supplies
Please note: Expired, damaged, or opened donations will not be accepted. No trial sizes, please.
If you have questions about Donations for Citations, please email UK Transportation Services or call the office at 859-257-5757.
The Big Blue Pantry is a part of the UK’s TRACS (Triage, Referral, Assistance and Crisis Support) Hub, a physical and virtual one-stop shop where students can come for a quick referral to support services or receive direct clinical support for a range of mental health needs, basic needs and crises.
Visit the Pantry’s website for information about BBP hours of operation or to offer donations outside of this program. BBP 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 to the work of the pantry, 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.