For the 2025–2026 academic year, the Employee Giving Committee, which represents the UC Davis Employee Giving Program, expanded its impact by hosting two campus-wide supplies drives instead of one. In addition to its annual drive held in recognition of the MLK Day Week of Service (Jan. 20-26), the committee introduced a new back-to-school drive that took place in October.
Results from January’s drive are now in, with 1,113.5 pounds of nonperishable food and toiletries collected. Combined with October’s impressive total of 1,226.5 pounds, the two drives yielded a remarkable 2,340 pounds — more than a ton — of much-needed supplies for UC Davis students.
These generous donations will be distributed directly to students through the ASUCD Pantry and the Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center, helping address food insecurity and access to essential items on campus.
The Employee Giving Supplies Drives play a critical role in restocking the ASUCD Pantry, a student-run, student-led organization that provides food and basic necessities to UC Davis students. Founded to help alleviate financial burdens, the ASUCD Pantry ensures students can access nutritious food and essential supplies while focusing on their academic success.
“By adding an extra supplies drive this school year, we collected more than 500 additional pounds of essential items for our students compared to last year,” said Korinne Labourdette, assistant director of Philanthropy Programs, Annual and Special Gifts Programs. “This approach also allowed us to spread the impact throughout the year — restocking shelves at the start of the fall quarter and replenishing them again when students returned to campus after winter break.”
Representing 18 departments, units and schools across campus, team captains rallied their colleagues to bring in essential items to support students facing financial challenges. The team from Advancement Services in Development and Alumni Relations, or DEVAR, brought in the largest haul, contributing an impressive 283.4 pounds of food and toiletries.
The Employee Giving Committee expressed gratitude to Transportation Services for its partnership in this year’s drive, which included picking up supplies from multiple locations around campus and dropping them off at the ASUCD Pantry. The committee also expressed thanks to all participating teams:
- Dean’s Office (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)
- Shields Library
- Summer Session (Undergraduate Education)
- UC Davis Athletics
- Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Learning and Organizational Development
- ITS-Davis
- Alumni Center (Donor Relation and CAAA)
- Facilities Management (Arboretum and Public Gardens)
- Voorhies Administrative Unit (College of Letters and Science)
- Blue Cluster Administration (College of Letters and Science)
- Dean’s Office (College of Biological Sciences)
- Donor Relations (DEVAR)
- Proposal Services (DEVAR)
- Foundation and Corporate Engagement (DEVAR)
- Advancement Services (DEVAR)
- Annual and Special Gifts Programs (DEVAR)
- Fred Costello, a retiree from Student Housing and Dining Services, and his neighbors in North Davis
Media Resources
Bryan Anthony is a senior writer for the Annual and Special Gifts Program in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, and can be reached by email.