Staff Council Community Outreach

Fall 2025 Outreach Opportunities

SOCK & BLANKET DRIVE 2025

The Staff Council Events Committee is excited to host this year’s Staff Council Sock & Blanket Drive, which benefits the Star of Hope Mission and Knowles-Temenos Place Apartments . Collections for both new items, and clean & gently used items are needed. Drop-offs will be set-up to receive items from Monday, November 3rd –Monday, December 12, 2025. A complete list of items and drop-off locations are available on a printable-friendly flyer for ease of sharing. Contact Co-Chairs Cindy Romero or Tina Blakes for more information.

kidsmeal

A Book Drive for Kids - Spring 2025

book drive

Staff Council in partnership with Books Between Kids presents “A Book Drive for Kids” at the University of Houston. Books Between Kids is a non-profit organization serving Houston’s at-risk children by providing them with books to build their own home libraries.

A Book Drive For Kids

Donation sites will be set up in E-Cullen, Agnes Arnold Hall, and Technology Bridge. Give new and like-new books for Pre-K through 5th-grade students.

Story Books
Chapter Books
Leveled readers
Children’s non-fiction books (that kids would pick out and read for fun)
Board and Toddler Books
Spanish or dual language books

2020-2021 Community Outreach

Sock and Blanket Drive 2021

The 2021 Staff Council Sock & Blanket Drive benefited the Star of Hope Mission. New and cleaned, gently used items were dropped off at various no-contact locations from November 1 – December 16, 2021.

Thirtyfive large 50-gallon bags of new and gently used items were donated. Thank you to all who contributed!

Sock & Blanket Drive Flier

List of Items to Donate
Thanksgiving Meals for Seniors 2021

Thanksgiving Meals for Seniors

Staff Council raised over $1,000 to provide 60 Thanksgiving meals to the residents at the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity (WALLIP) Senior Residence located in Third Ward.

Thank you to all who contributed!

The WALIPP Senior Residence is a four-story structure offering independent living for adults age 55 and above, which opened in 2004. It provides 42 two-bedroom and 8 one-bedroom apartments. All amenities comply with the American Disabilities Act. It is located in Houston’s Third Ward community.

Additionally, Staff Council donated treats to the WALIPP Senior Residence in December 2021 to help kick off the holiday season.
Staff Council Food Drive Benefited the Cougar Cupboard

Staff Council held a Food Drive benefiting the Cougar Cupboard at the University of Houston. Faculty, staff, and students participated from February 8 to March 12, 2021.

Thank you to all who participated in Staff Council’s Food Drive. The Food Drive received 75 pounds of food for the Cougar Cupboard.

A no-contact dropbox was located in front of the UH Cougar Cupboard Office at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center.
Adopting Families for the month of December

Staff Council partnered with the University of Houston’s Third Ward Initiative to adopt a total of three families from Blackshear Elementary, Shape Community Center, and the family of our late UH staff member Mr. Renee Cantu who was in need.

Eight UH staff members contributed a total of $255.00 to this initiative, which allowed us to purchase three $85.00 HEB gift cards and provide holiday gifts, to the Mason, London, and Cantu families and their children.

Thank you for your continued support. Together we truly continue to make a difference in the lives of others!
Sock & Blanket Drive

The 2020 Staff Council Sock & Blanket Drive benefited the Star of Hope Mission. The drive took place at UH Technology Bridge from Monday, December 14, 2020, through Thursday, December 17, 2020.

This year's drive was by no-contact delivery allowing Staff Council volunteers to safely receive donated items by removing them from the trunk of vehicles.

60 bags and boxes of new and clean, gently used items were donated to the Star of Hope Mission this year.
3rd Ward Community Clean Up

Thank you to all who joined the University of Houston Staff Council in partnership with the University of Houston Third Ward Initiative, College of Technology, Keep America Beautiful, and the NFL for the Third Ward Community Clean Up with Jack Yates High School in honor of George Floyd on Saturday, October 30, 2021.

30 UH volunteers consisting of students, faculty, and staff cleaned up various sites in Third Ward including Jack Yates High School, SHAPE Community Center, Blackshear Elementary, and Trinity East United Methodist Church.

Among the UH students’ volunteers were the 2021 UH Homecoming Queen Jayce Ball and Homecoming King Jordan Booker volunteered and participated in the clean-up by mowing grass and planting flowers at Blackshear Elementary School.