One of the hallmarks of the holiday season is helping those in need. Our UNL community has come together to give a hand to a variety of important causes within our city, state and nation. While it’s impossible to list every good deed our students, faculty and staff have done, we collected a few here to inspire future do-gooders and give public kudos to these inspiring Huskers.

1. Rounding Up Supplies for Refugees

When the Bosnian American Student Alliance and Afghan Student Alliance heard that Lincoln would soon be home to new Afghan refugees, the groups teamed up with Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska to organize a resource drive for household needs. With the holidays approaching, they also held a drive for toys for refugee children.

2. Chipping In for Cancer Patients

UNL Students Together Against Cancer have donated a whopping $40,000 to local cancer patients since 2012. In November 2021, the group hit a milestone with their 100th donation to Danielle, a mother of three and future Husker.

3. Welcoming the Newest Nebraskans

The College of Education and Human Sciences gathered two truckloads of supplies for the Refugee Empowerment Center, a Nebraska organization that welcomes and uplifts the state’s newest residents.

4. Helping Children’s Hospital

Dance Marathon benefits Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. The group holds year-round fundraisers — as well as a 13.1-hour dancing event — to show support for the children undergoing treatment at the hospital. In October 2021, the group celebrated raising more than $24,000 in donations.

5. Turning Shelter Pups into Service Dogs

Husker PhD student London works with Uplifting Paws, a group that trains therapy and service dogs for those with disabilities at a fraction of the cost. Many of those dogs are from shelters, which provides them new futures as working animals for those in need.

6. Supporting Lincoln’s Future Artists

UNL’s Racial Justice Alliance organized a fundraiser for Art Bus LNK, a mobile art studio that allows kids to explore the joys of art. Art Bus LNK’s after school sessions and summer camps connect little ones with local artists and new mediums of expression.

7. Giving Girls Confidence

Junior Laura Tooley volunteers with Iowa Miss Amazing, a program that gives girls and women with disabilities the opportunity to participate in confidence-building and self-esteem boosting activities.

8. Lending a Helping Paw

Nebraska Engineering students helped a cat in need for their capstone. The crew engineered a 3D-printed prosthetic leg for a shelter kitten named Olive, who lost one of her legs from an unknown cause.

9. Serving Local Children

Alpha Xi Delta chose Food Fort, a Lincoln non-profit that brings meals to children in under-resourced neighborhoods, as their philanthropy this year. The sorority volunteered by organizing a food drive, helping with homework and holding a Trunk or Treat event.

10. Giving Back Across the Globe

UNL’s Engineers Without Borders are taking their engineering knowledge to communities in Madagascar and Zambia to install solar lighting systems, build bridges and teach their skills to members of the local community. They also help locally at STEM events and community clean ups.