If you're ready to do some good this holiday season, today is the day to make it happen.

Through the entirety of Dec. 1, University of Arkansas alumni, friends, faculty and staff can give back through the global giving movement of #GivingTuesday, which brings focus to generosity and philanthropy during a season that can sometimes be overshadowed by commercialism.

Every year, the U of A relies on gifts to ensure the success and stability of the campus, and this year is no exception.

"#GivingTuesday is a great way to get involved and give back to the initiatives that mean the most to you," said Lizzie Johnson, director of annual giving. "And while we are just highlighting two important areas at the U of A where you can make a difference, gifts of all sizes and to all designations are accepted and appreciated."

Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry

Gifts to the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry are encouraged on #GivingTuesday, so the campus can help combat food insecurity.

Sage McCoy, food programs coordinator for the Center for Community Engagement, said the pantry typically sees an increase in clients during the holiday season.

"Utilities are going up with colder weather, and folks are preparing for the holidays," she said. "And with COVID, incomes may be more affected than usual. Giving during this time of year helps ensure we are able to keep up with increases in usage and need."

Each year, the Full Circle Food Pantry purchases food to create Thanksgiving and Christmas bags for clients to reserve. Thanks to funds raised and items donated earlier this fall, they were able to pass out a record 147 Thanksgiving baskets, which included whole turkeys.

"We see these holiday bags as opportunities to offer normalcy to our clients," McCoy said. "It gives them an opportunity to spend time around the dinner table with their families."

Monetary donations received on #GivingTuesday will help the pantry prepare Christmas baskets, which include hams, for their clients, as well as ensure a successful start to 2021. McCoy said the pantry has had to spend a lot more of their money on keeping the shelves stocked this year, since physical donations are hampered by the pandemic. Fiscal donations help the pantry continue to serve their client base, which increased from about 750 household members per month in 2019-2020 to 1,200-1,400 people per month since March 2020.

Johnny Doan, communications coordinator for the pantry, said, "Being a board member, the pantry became a way for me to see food insecurity from different perspectives. We all see food insecurity as a wide spectrum, so everyone experiences it differently, and — especially with the pandemic — it's a bigger reason why we need to help our clients during this time."

To make a gift to the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry, visit the university's online giving site.

In addition to monetary donations, food item donations are also welcome at the pantry. Items that are always needed include:

• Canned/shelf-stable vegetables
• Beans
• Canned fruit
• Peanut butter
• Soup
• Fresh produce
• Non-expired dairy and eggs
• Frozen meals or produce
• Fun/seasonal items like baking mixes, snacks, or tea

To coordinate a drop-off of a physical donation, email Bri Roden, food drives coordinator, at fcdrives@uark.edu.

Fulbright College Dean's Emergency Student Retention Fund

Imagine — you are ready to graduate and need $65 for graduation fees but don't have the money because you or your family experienced job loss due to the pandemic.

Or, what if you only had four credit hours left to go, but can't register because of last semester's debt?

Or, what if you need rent assistance, have medical expenses or are food insecure and a few hundred dollars are the only difference between you staying in college or dropping out?

For many of our students, these aren't scenarios they have to imagine because they are living this reality.

They are so close to the finish line, so close to having the BRIGHT future of their dreams but are also so close to being derailed because of financial challenges caused by COVID-19.

Thanks to a $10,000 matching gift for the new Fulbright College Dean's Emergency Student Retention Fund, an unrestricted fund established to help students achieve their educational goals when facing unforeseen financial challenges due to the pandemic, all gifts up to $10,000 will be matched for #GivingTuesday.

No gift is too big or small and all gifts will be matched dollar for dollar up to $10,000.

Already, this semester, Fulbright College departments have been able to help 49 students in departments across the college — but the need is much greater, and funds are becoming depleted.

Please visit fulbright.uark.edu/givingtuesday and make a gift of any size on Tuesday, Dec. 1.