Comet Generosity Can Help Students During Holidays

11.13.2025

From left: UT Dallas students Mia Flores, Megan Fleming and William Sebera stock the Comet Cupboard.

As the holidays approach, The University of Texas at Dallas community can make a difference with cash and item donations to on-campus resources that support students who need assistance. Below are ways to help or make use of the Basic Needs Resource Center, the Comet Closet and the Comet Cupboard.

Basic Needs Resource Center

The Basic Needs Resource Center, a service of the Division of Student Affairs, offers several ways to help students, including its standout program Temoc’s Closet, where enrolled students can browse for clothing that has been donated by campus partners, faculty, staff and others.

Donations are eagerly accepted, said center director Kate King.

“We take all different kinds of clothing, everything from loungewear to activewear to business clothes,” she said. “We only ask that they are gently used. We recycle any clothing we’re not able to use.”

The center also provides hygiene products and school supplies.

Donate: The Basic Needs Resource Center accepts monetary donations, clothes and hygiene items. The center also has an Amazon wish list.

Visit: Student Services Building (SSB 4.300); open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Comet Closet

The Comet Closet, located in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, provides free clothing rentals to students who need to present themselves professionally for situations such as a job interview, networking event or formal presentation. The program is open to any enrolled UT Dallas student.

“We know that first impressions make a big difference, and a lot of that has to do with how someone presents themself,” said Audrianna Ebel Wade, program manager for Jindal School undergraduate student services.

“We want to be able to provide students with professional attire that they can wear to an interview to feel very confident about themselves, as well as just provide a resource to students where they don’t have to go out and buy clothing,” she said.

Donate: The Comet Closet accepts monetary donations to maintain its inventory. To donate, select it from the pull-down menu on the Jindal School’s gift page.

Visit: Students can request an appointment using the online tool.

Comet Cupboard

The Comet Cupboard, a food pantry operated by the Office of Undergraduate Education, is dedicated to alleviating food insecurity challenges among UT Dallas students. The Comet Cupboard’s services include distributing food to students weekly, providing emergency food bags when the campus is closed, cultivating community-oriented campus culture through service learning and hosting food drives.

The program needs help now more than ever, said Hillary Campbell, senior director of undergraduate programs.

“Around 70% of the cupboard’s distribution inventory comes through our partnership pipeline with the North Texas Food Bank,” she said. “Since March 2025, the availability of nutritious food through this pipeline has decreased by 60%.”

The Comet Cupboard has served over 12,000 students since commencing operations in 2012.

Donate: Donations of unexpired nonperishable food, personal care items or household care items can be made at several campus locations, and monetary gifts are accepted in person and online. The cupboard also has an Amazon wish list.

Visit: No appointment is needed for students to visit the Comet Cupboard, located in the Eugene McDermott Library (MC 1.312W). It is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

–Jessica Good