Staff Council Updates

What began as a simple idea to address an everyday need grew into a campus-wide effort that made a meaningful difference for our community.

This summer, Emily Bishop, a simulationist with the CU Anschutz College of Nursing and a member of the CU Anschutz Staff Council, organized a month-long donation drive to collect incontinence and hygiene supplies for the neighbors we serve through Catholic Charities.

The inspiration came from Emily's years of experience working in skilled nursing and long-term care settings, where she witnessed firsthand how costly essential personal care items can be for individuals and families.

I have worked in long-term care skilled nursing for about 16 years now, and I’ve noticed that incontinence supplies are so expensive. That’s the number one thing that people really do need because they’re one-time use

Recognizing this often-overlooked need, Emily partnered with CU Anschutz Staff Council to launch a donation drive across the CU Anschutz campus. Collection bins were placed in seven buildings, making it easy for faculty, staff, and students to participate.

The response from the campus community was inspiring. Throughout the month, donation bins filled with essential items including:

• Adult briefs and protective undergarments
• Incontinence liners and pads
• Personal hygiene wipes
• Barrier creams
• Other everyday care necessities
  

These donated supplies were delivered to Catholic Charities, where they will help support individuals and families facing financial hardship.

The success of the drive serves as a reminder that small acts of generosity can have a significant impact. Items many people use every day are often among the most needed, yet least donated, resources for those experiencing economic challenges.

CU Anschutz Staff Council extends its sincere gratitude to Emily for identifying this need and leading the effort, as well as to everyone across CU Anschutz who contributed to the drive. Your generosity reflects the compassion, service, and community spirit that make our campus such a special place.

Together, we demonstrated that when our campus community comes together, we can help meet essential needs and support our neighbors with dignity and care.