Members of the Princeton University community will have the opportunity to share the holiday spirit through a series of community service initiatives and special events planned for December and January.
Concert and toy drive
A holiday "A Cappella Jam and Toy Drive" performance featuring student a cappella groups will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, on the Palmer Square Green. The event is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to the YWCA Princeton St. Nicholas Project.
Food drives at basketball games
Organizers of a "Holiday Hoops" food drive will provide a $4 voucher off the price of a game-day ticket with the donation of a nonperishable food item when the Princeton men's basketball team takes on Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at Jadwin Gymnasium. In addition, free admission is available to those who bring two nonperishable food items to the Princeton women's basketball game vs. St. Joseph's at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, or vs. Delaware on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m., at Jadwin Gym. All donations support the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank.
Food and personal hygiene collections
Through Wednesday, Dec. 18, donations of nonperishable food items and personal hygiene products for the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank will be collected at several campus sites: New South A Level; C232 Engineering Quadrangle; Jadwin Gym; Helm Building; MacMillan Building; Robertson Hall; West College; Lewis Thomas Lab; 9 Nassau Hall; 200 Elm Drive; 185 Nassau St.; 22 Chambers St.; Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory; 701 Carnegie Center; Lewis Library; two locations at 171 Broadmead (University Now Nursery School and Office of Information Technology); and the 100 level of Frist. The following items are especially needed: canned tuna, sardines, salmon and chicken; canned fruit in light syrup or juice; canned vegetables; rice; pasta; pasta sauce; Parmalat or other shelf-stable milk; cereals, oatmeal and pancake mix (nonsugar); peanut butter; jelly; dish and laundry detergent; soaps and body wash; deodorant; shampoo; conditioner; and feminine products.
University community members also may support the Send Hunger Packing Program, which provides school-aged children in need with nutritionally sound, easy-to-open meals to get them through the weekend. Items needed include shelf-stable 2 percent reduced-fat milk in an eight-ounce, single-serving size; cereal (individual bowls or boxes); ready-to-eat tuna with or without crackers; microwaveable entrees or bowls; peanut butter in jars or individual cups; grape jelly in plastic containers; yogurt smoothie drinks in shelf-stable brick packs; granola bars; and shelf-stable pudding cups.
Additional efforts
Additionally, campus and local nonprofit groups are participating in initiatives to collect donations including books, games, gift certificates, food, personal care items, toys, winter jackets and sleepwear. Participating organizations are Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton, Health Care Ministry of Princeton, HomeFront, One Simple Wish, Princeton Nursery School, Princeton Young Achievers, SAVE, the YWCA Princeton St. Nicholas Project and Womanspace. For more information about these organizations and donations needed, visit the Community and Regional Affairs website or contact Erin Metro at 609-258-5144 or emetro@princeton.edu.
In addition, community members can start saving men's and women's business attire for the annual gently used clothing drive planned for January. Details will be announced at a later date.
The outreach initiatives are sponsored by the Office of Community and Regional Affairs, the Graduate School, the Department of Athletics, the Facilities Organization, Conference and Event Services, the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, and Hoagie Haven.