FM donation drives
November 13, 2025
Employees are supporting two donation collections in November
Facilities Management employees are organizing department-wide collections of donated items this month.
Harvesting Hope
“A can can make a difference!” according to FM Meter Technician A.J. Young, who is organizing the Harvesting Hope food drive from Nov. 15-30.
Young's nonprofit, the Life Works Project Inc., is organizing the canned food drive in partnership with Facilities Management and UVA Business Services. The drive will benefit the organization's client choice food pantry, River City Bread Basket in Waynesboro.
Donations of non-perishable items - including soup, cereal, oatmeal, rice, beans, oatmeal, boxed meals and canned fruits, vegetables and meats - are being collected at the following locations:
- Leake Building lower-level
- Lacy Hall second floor
- West Complex Rm G032
- O'Neil Hall first floor
Monetary donations can also be made on the LifeWorks Project donation website to support the River City Bread Basket.
Toy Lift
Facilities Management is once again collecting toys and monetary donations for the 2025 Annual Toy Lift now through 5 p.m. Thursday, December 4. Toys and donations will be delivered on Friday, December 5 at Fashion Square Mall.
Senior Sheet Metal Technician Kevin Houchens, who has been involved with Toy Lift for 13 years, shared that 3,000 kids are signed up to receive donations from the Toy Lif this year.
“Times are tight for many of us, and even if FM can contribute even a little from our majority, we will make such a contribution to these kids,” said Houchens.
FM's goal this year is to fill a box truck with toys and donations and to surpass other UVA departments that are also hosting similar collection drives.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the following locations:
- Leake Building, Upper-Level, Room 115 and the Finance area Room 129
- HSPP West Complex Ground Level Room G032, see Vinnie Vawter
- 1003 West Main St., see Betty Bowman
Toy Lift provides toys and books to area children ages newborn through 8th grade. Checks may be made out payable to Toy Lift Charities. You may also donate via the Toy Lift website.
Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu