The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Staff Senate is accepting donations for UA Little Rock families in need of a free holiday meal basket.

The Staff Senate’s Helping Hands project provides holiday meal baskets for UA Little Rock employees and students who would otherwise not be able to provide a traditional holiday dinner for their families.

Applications for those who would like to receive a holiday meal basket will be accepted until Monday, Dec. 5. Visit the Staff Senate’s Helping Hands application website to fill out an application.

For those who would like to help with the Helping Hands Campaign, donations can be made through payroll deductions by filling out this online form. Please complete the information on the “Designate my gift/pledge to support section” and enter Helping Hands. You can also make a one-time donation through this form by designating “Helping Hands” in the Fund field.

Donations can also be made via cash or check by writing that your gift is designated to “Helping Hands” on a note for any cash donation or on the check memo line. Donations can be mailed to Office of Alumni and Development, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204. Each basket for a family costs $25.

Staff Senate is also collecting non-perishable food items until Dec. 9. Donation items needed for the food baskets include black eyed peas, chicken/vegetable broth, corn, cornbread mix, cranberry sauce, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, green beans, green peas, stuffing/dressing mix, and yams/sweet potatoes.

Donation boxes are located in the College of Business, Dickinson Hall, Donaghey Student Center, Engineering and Information Technology, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Nursing, Ottenheimer Library, Student Services Center, William H. Bowen School of Law, UA Little Rock Public Radio, and University Commons.

For more information or to request a paper application, contact Helping Hands Committee Chairperson Rosalie Shahan at 501-859-0364 or rsshahan@midsouth.ualr.edu.

In the photo, UA Little Rock staff members Heather Reed, Ross Bradley, and Rosalie Shahan collect donations for the Helping Hands Campaign at BBQ @ Bailey.