Donations for Citations: Valentine’s Day edition
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 5, 2025) — University of Kentucky Transportation Services’ Donations for Citations drive starts on Monday, Feb. 10, and runs through Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14.
Donations for Citations helps stock the shelves at Big Blue Pantry (BBP), an on-campus organization that works to combat hunger and food insecurity for UK students.
Students or employees who have a regular ($30) parking citation can pay their fee during this one-week period by donating food or personal care items. Ten nonperishable 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.
Bring donations to UK Transportation Services’ customer care center at 721 Press Ave., from Feb. 10-14. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The Donations for Citations drive is a staff favorite,” said Lance Broeking, UK Transportation Services director. “It gives our department a chance to turn something negative — a citation — into something positive by helping combat food insecurity on campus.”
This is the 10th year that Transportation Services has partnered with BBP. Since the program’s inception in 2016, Donations for Citations has delivered almost 32,000 pounds of food and personal care items to the pantry.
Last fall, Transportation Services did a three-week food drive for the pantry resulting in 4,166 pounds of food and personal care items. As a result, the pantry still has a selection of canned goods available. BBP Director Andrew Perkins said he hopes this drive will help provide primarily dry goods, which are items the pantry needs the most.
“We’re always in need of dry goods and personal care items, as they disappear quickly from our shelves,” said Perkins. “As always, we’re grateful for the generosity of the UK community.”
BBP is asking individuals to consider donating the following shelf-stable food items: rice, pasta and sauce (no glass jars); ramen; oatmeal; granola bars; peanut butter and jelly; cereal; macaroni and cheese; shelf stable microwave meals; and fruit cups.
Personal hygiene items are also needed, including: shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, bar soap, hand soap, razors, shaving cream, deodorant, and tampons or sanitary pads.
The pantry cannot accept expired, damaged or opened donations, refrigerated items, items in glass containers, or trial size items.
Visit the Big Blue Pantry’s website for information about hours of operation or to offer donations outside of this program.
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.