UK students plan donation drives to support local and global causes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 5, 2025) — For students in the University of Kentucky College of Education, giving back to the community is more than a good deed — it’s part of the learning experience.  

Graduate students in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion are once again putting their classroom lessons into action through a series of donation drives to support local and global causes. 

The projects are part of an assignment in a graduate level course taught by associate professor Justin Nichols, Ed.D., known as the Good Deeds Project. It challenges students to create, plan, staff and evaluate a community service initiative, using skills they will need in their future sport leadership careers. 

“The students take full ownership,” Nichols said. “They’re the ones coordinating with community partners, developing marketing materials, managing logistics and evaluating outcomes. It’s inspiring to see them use what they’re learning to meet real community needs.” 

Nichols said the guiding question for the project is “How can we do the most for the most?” That mindset, he said, reflects both the class’s purpose and UK’s broader commitment to advancing Kentucky — serving people and communities across the Commonwealth.

This year, students have organized three major drives: 

Winter Coat Drive 

Kinesiology and Health Promotion graduate students are collecting winter coats, as well as encouraging monetary donations, for Believing in Forever and Lexington Rescue Mission. The collection will run through Dec. 5. Bring new children’s coats and gently used and new adult coats to: 

• Alumni Gym (collection bin) 

• Johnson Center (collection bin) 

Shoe Drive 

Support College of Education students collecting new and gently used shoes for Soles4Souls. The shoe drive, Give Shoes Give Love, is organized by graduate students in Kinesiology and Health Promotion and students in the Elementary Education Student Association. Shoes can be dropped off now through Nov. 20 at:  

• Seaton Building, Room 117 (collection bin) 

• Dickey Hall, Room 341 (collection bin) 

• Taylor Education Building, Room 123 (collection bin) 

Food Drive 

Nonperishable food donations are being collected for God’s Pantry by graduate students in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, now through Nov. 15 at Seaton Building, near Room 100 (collection bin).  

Sport leadership master’s program student Rhyan Lee is part of the group collecting winter coats. 

“I’m really excited about this project, and it is an honor to be part of something so special,” Lee said. “Devine Carama has been such an important figure in the Lexington community, and I am so happy he agreed to let us help with this year’s Youth Coat Drive. Our goal for the Good Deeds Project really is to ‘do the most for the most’ and we hope that we can help many Kentuckians stay warm this upcoming winter.”  

Over the years, students in Nichols’ class have collected thousands of shoes, coats, toys and food items for families and organizations across Kentucky and beyond. Each new class continues to find innovative ways to grow the impact of the project.  

“It’s amazing to watch their enthusiasm spread,” Nichols said. “When students realize the scope of what they can accomplish together, it stays with them long after the semester ends.”