The UAB community came together during the holiday season to give back to struggling military veterans in the Birmingham area.
The AWARE Disability Management Program recently hosted a coats and blankets drive to benefit the Phoenix Clinic at the Birmingham VA Medical Center, which serves homeless Birmingham-area veterans and those leaving homelessness behind. Drop-off boxes were stationed at 16 locations across campus from Veterans Day 2022 through December 16. More than 400 blankets, coats, jackets, undergarments, socks, gloves, hats and more items were collected, including a sleeping bag and 10 pairs of business slacks for job interviews.
“The outpouring of support from UAB employees and students was absolutely amazing,” said HR ADA Specialist Dina Jones. And with the frigid temperatures that affected the area last month, the Phoenix Clinic the donations couldn’t have arrived at a better time, Jones said.
Pictured: The AWARE Program’s Dina Jones, ADA Specialist, (third from left) drops off donated coats, blankets and other items to Phoenix Clinic staff members (from left) Jelani Gause, Dr. Donchelle Scott-Collins, Sherri Grant, Amber Carthen and Monnaka Speights.
— Posted January 3, 2023