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At CUIMC, we are committed to giving back to the Washington Heights and Inwood community through a variety of campus-wide drives that provide essential resources to families in need. In collaboration with local community partners, we organize donation efforts throughout the year to support children, families, and individuals facing hardship.
Our annual drives include:
Fresh Youth Initiatives, Inc.
Toy Drive – Spreading joy to children through donations of toys, clothing, and essential items.
Food Drive – Providing non-perishable food items to local food pantries for families experiencing food insecurity.
Hands-On STEM - Hands-On STEM: Partnering with local schools to provide essential science supplies for Washington Heights and Inwood classrooms.
Your generosity helps make a meaningful difference in our community!
Toy Drive
Each holiday season, OACP partners with local daycare centers, Head Start programs, and community-based organizations to provide toys, clothing, and essential items to children and families in need. To help bring joy to families facing hardship, we invite Columbia faculty, staff, and students to participate in our Holiday Toy Drive.
Over the years, numerous community organizations have joined us in this effort, making a meaningful impact on local families. Visit our website this fall to explore our Amazon Wish List and help spread holiday cheer to children and families in our community!
Food Drive
Each year, as the Thanksgiving season approaches, CUIMC hosts its Annual Food Drive(link is external and opens in a new window) rallying our campus community to donate canned goods to support local families facing food insecurity. Access to healthy food is essential for well-being, especially for those experiencing hardship, and this initiative helps ensure that families in need have nutritious options on their tables.
All donations from our campus go to Fresh Youth Initiatives—New York City's only youth-run, adult-facilitated food pantry. Through FYI, these contributions are distributed to thousands of individuals and families in the Washington Heights and Inwood community, reinforcing our collective commitment to fighting hunger and supporting our neighbors
Hands-On STEM - Supporting Science in Local Schools
The Hands-On Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiative, a partnership between Columbia University Irving Medical Center and local schools, provides essential science supplies to classrooms in Washington Heights and Inwood. Launched in 2023 with four schools, the program has grown to support six schools, helping to bridge resource gaps and enhance hands-on learning experiences for students. By supporting teachers with the science resources they need, we aim to inspire curiosity, innovation, and a passion for STEM for all children in the community.
