By Nicole Chan
Catch up on our last week of stories before we sign off for the semester.
UMD partners with Red Cross to host blood drive
By: Lena LaJoy
The Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center hosted the American Red Cross for its fourth blood drive of the year on Tuesday, surpassing its collection goal with 41 total donations.
Lindsey Wareing, the director of sales and marketing at the Alumni Center, started the initiative to honor her cousin who passed away in 2021. In total, the center has hosted 10 blood drives and collected 383 units of blood. While the event originally occurred twice a year, it now takes place four times per school year.
“The Alumni Association supports the drives as a part of our priorities: to empower terps to live a life of meaning and impact and to educate and activate alums to serve our communities,” Wareing said.
Participants received incentives including gift cards, Terrapin Express cards and merchandise for checking in at the Abbott competition table. The Abbott competition is a contest among Big 10 schools to collect the most blood donations, where UMD currently ranks No. 16 out of 18.
Jessica Saylor, a freshman film and marketing double major, attended the event to help those in need and appreciated the incentives provided by Red Cross.
“I go to the blood drive to help give back to people that are sick and need something I can spare,” Saylor said.
Wareing announced that the next blood drives are scheduled for Feb. 9, 2026, and April 20, 2026, during Do Good Month.
Toy Drive
By: Shannon Raneri
The Department of Resident Life is collecting donations for its annual Terp Toy Drive through Dec. 10. Students can contribute by dropping off items at residence hall service desks or purchasing gifts via an Amazon Wishlist.
Donations will be distributed by the City of College Park Youth and Family Services Office to local youth ranging from newborns to 18-year-olds. The drive, now in its 28th year, aims to collect 1,200 gifts for organizations such as Paint Branch Elementary School and Healthy Families Prince George’s.
Dennis Passarella-George, Director of the Department of Resident Life, described the initiative as a way for students to see that they are a part of something bigger in our city.
“It’s a small way to show gratitude and care,” Passarella-George said.
Kevin Kerman, a freshman accounting major, said he believes that it’s important to give back to the community and support families that can’t afford gifts and essentials for their children.
“They should be able to celebrate the holidays in the same way that everybody else [does],” Kerman said.
Featured Image: Student sitting by Tawes Hall on Oct. 10, 2025. Photo by Ella Buchanan.