UTM Gives: Coming together to help out, give back
In the sometimes hectic lead up to the winter holidays, students, staff and faculty at U of T Mississauga have opened their hearts, wallets, pantries and closets to give back to our community.
The annual “Food for Fines” initiative at the Hazel McCallion Learning Centre was a smashing success this year. Now in its fifth year, the U of T Libraries initiative encourages students to donate non-perishable food items in lieu of library fines during the last week of November. “For every item students bring in, we deduct two dollars from their fines to a maximum of twenty dollars,” says Shayne Chan, assistant supervisor of information and loan services, who organizes the event at UTM.
“It’s very popular, and the response has been overwhelming. Students bring more items of food than their fines are worth,” Chan says. This year, the UTM students donated a total 921 items, accounting for 64 per cent of all donations collected at U of T libraries. The donations go to local Eden Food For Change food bank, which serves the western Mississauga. The initiative runs at the same time as the Library’s other big fundraiser—the annual United Way book sale, which raised more than $3,800 for the UTM campaign.
Staff and faculty at the Institute for Management & Innovation wrapped up the second annual “IMI Giving + Sharing Social.” The event, which featured a staff potluck and games, collected 65 gifts for children involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel.
Erindale College alumnus Dean Fox rallied alumni and other friends to raise $140,000 for the Peel Regional Police “Toys for Tots” campaign to provide gifts to children in the community.
Looking for a way to give your own gift? There’s still time to contribute to the UTM United Way campaign, which is close to hitting its goal of $72,000. Throughout the fall semester, the campaign raises awareness and funds to combat poverty in Peel, through campus events and employee contributions.