The holiday season is almost here, and at Penn there are many ways to honor the spirit of giving, including donating food or a warm winter coat to help people in need.

Penn Volunteers in Public Service (Penn VIPS) is holding a holiday food drive through Nov. 14 to collect non-perishable, canned, and boxed food, as well as frozen turkeys. Donations can be dropped off at special locations at nearly two dozen offices across campus, including the Penn Museum, the Human Resources office, and other University departments and schools.

“Every year, Penn folks are extremely generous,” says Isabel Sampson-Mapp, director of Penn VIPS, which operates through the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships. Penn VIPS works with local community centers and associations to identify families and individuals in need.

“We [at Penn] believe in being good neighbors,” says Sampson-Mapp. “We see ourselves as neighbors and partners with the surrounding University community.”

The food will be donated to help stock the pantries of Baring House, which offers free emergency care for young children at risk of abuse or neglect, and the People’s Emergency Shelter, which provides temporary housing for women with children.

Also, through Dec. 14, Penn VIPS is collecting new or gently used clean coats for children and adults to be distributed to Philadelphia area charitable organizations. Donations of hats, gloves, and scarves are also welcome. Collection boxes are located at the Human Resources office and the Netter Center.

For more information on drop-off locations for food and coats, visit the Almanac website at www.upenn.edu/almanac. For information on all Penn VIPS programs, contact Sampson-Mapp at 215-898-2020 or send an email 
to: sammapp@pobox.upenn.edu.