left to right: Samira Crabb, Toria Pettway, and Resa Watson from the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care SurgeryThe UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery led a holiday clothing and supply drive to support several local non-profit organizations, including Impact Family Counseling, the Offender Alumni Association, and the UAB Compassion Closet.

Impact Family Counseling is a nonprofit counseling center that provides low-cost professional counseling services to the Birmingham community. The drive collected 1,699 items, including diapers, wipes, baby clothing, and baby bottles for the organization.

The Compassion Closet is an initiative created by UAB Heersink School of Medicine students to support emergency and trauma patients whose clothing has been damaged or cut during initial first responder interventions or due to health conditions. The initiative guarantees individuals will have clothing to return home with comfort. The clothing drive contributed 233 items of casual clothing to this initiative.

Jeffrey Kerby, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, said the initiative was organized by Psychiatric Social Worker Toria Pettway, LMSW, and supported by Samira Crabb, BSN, divisional administrative associate, and Resa Watson, CCMA, divisional patient services coordinator II. Donations were provided by UAB faculty, staff, trainees, and friends of the Department of Surgery.

“This clothing and supply drive has successfully linked the generosity of our faculty and staff with the important missions of local community organizations,” Kerby said. “Our division is committed to supporting Alabamians not only through medical care but also in various ways, including injury prevention and gathering resources for those affected by traumatic injuries. We are grateful for the partnership of organizations across the state in helping us achieve this important goal.”