Campus News

2022 Donations for Citations Collects 3,027 Pounds of Food

Photo provided by Lisa S. Cleveland.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 22, 2022) — University of Kentucky students and employees donated more than 3,027 pounds of food and personal care items to Big Blue Pantry (BBP) this week during the annual Donations for Citations drive. 

This year marks the seventh for the Donations for Citations program, which helps stock Pantry shelves. Since its inception in 2016, almost 17,100 pounds of staples have been collected for the Pantry. 

Donations for Citations enables those UK students and employees who have a parking citation to pay their fee by donating to the pantry, an on-campus organization that works to combat hunger and food insecurity for students. This year’s drive began on Feb. 28 and ran through March 11. 

“We’re thrilled to receive such a large donation,” said Big Blue Pantry Manager Andrew Perkins. “These items will be a big help to our pantry guests and will do a tremendous amount of good for the campus community. We’re grateful for the Donations for Citations drive and our partnership with Transportation Services.”

Lance Broeking, director of UK Transportation Services, said “Transportation Services staff looks forward to this program every year. While citations are an unfortunate necessity, this program enables the UK community to turn a negative into a positive by supporting a worthwhile cause.”

Donations for Citations is one of BBP’s largest food drives of the year. The Pantry relies upon donations from the campus community year-round to keep its shelves stocked.

The Big Blue Pantry is a part of the Office for Student Success's Student Well-Being Area. 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 that 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.   

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.