Support Student Success Through the Spring Forward Drive at UT Dallas!
The Spring Forward Drive is a campus‑wide initiative designed to raise awareness, collect resources, and support student success at The University of Texas at Dallas. Students thrive academically when their essential needs are met, and the drive mobilizes students, faculty, staff, and community members to contribute items, donations, and time to the Basic Needs Resource Center (BNRC) and the Comet Cupboard. Spring Forward reinforces UT Dallas’s commitment to removing non‑academic barriers that can prevent students from reaching their full potential.
About the BNRC
“I wanted to let you know because your kindness and the way you consistently checked in on me truly meant a lot. Your support helped me feel seen and encouraged during a difficult time, and I’m extremely grateful for you." -BNRC User, Junior, Biomedical Engineering
The BNRC plays a central role in supporting student success by addressing the root causes of instability that can disrupt learning. The BNRC assisted UT Dallas students through nearly 4,000 student visits in Fall 2025 and processed nearly 3,000 lbs of clothing items through Temoc’s Closet.
As part of the Division of Student Affairs, the BNRC connects students to on‑ and off‑campus resources related to food and housing insecurity, clothing, financial assistance, and pregnancy and parenting support. Services such as Temoc’s Closet provide free clothing and hygiene items, while emergency aid resources assist students facing short‑term financial crises. By offering these services at no cost and in a welcoming environment, the BNRC helps students remain enrolled, focused, and academically engaged. The ensures that basic needs are not barriers, but foundations for success.
About the Comet Cupboard
The Comet Cupboard directly addresses food insecurity through its free, on‑campus food pantry. In Fall 2025, the cupboard served over 6,600 students and distributed over 73,000 items!
Founded in 2012 as the first university food pantry in Texas, the Comet Cupboard provides perishable and non‑perishable food items, as well as personal care and household necessities, to all enrolled UT Dallas students. The pantry has served more than 12,000 students and continues to see growing demand each year. Beyond meeting immediate nutritional needs, the Comet Cupboard supports academic success by reducing stress and financial trade‑offs that often force students to choose between food and educational expenses. It also engages approximately 300 student volunteers annually, fostering leadership, service‑learning, and a campus culture rooted in community care.
Get Involved
Make your gift
Make your gift today to support the impactful services of the BNRC and Comet Cupboard. Your donation directly empowers them to continue serving students and making sure basic needs and food insecurity aren’t barriers to academic success.
Support career readiness
The BNRC is hosting Career Fair Prep Day on Feb. 5, 2026 to support students prepare for the all-major campus career fair on February 11 and 12. We anticipate significant demand for business and professional attire and are seeking donations of clean, lightly used suits, blazers, slacks, skirts and dresses.
This event is designed to support students in developing key career‑readiness skills, and the BNRC is also looking for alumni volunteers who would be willing to assist with resume reviews, elevator pitch practice, and general guidance on networking and professional etiquette. Learn more about volunteering here and fill out an interest form here.
Please donate professional attire by Feb. 4.
Additionally. We would welcome the team’s support in encouraging donations of professional clothing throughout the new year and continuing through mid‑February. We will be conducting our own outreach, and your assistance in amplifying this effort would be greatly appreciated.
Drop off non-perishable, personal care, or clothing items at the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center
- Non-perishable food items personal hygiene items.
- Donating professional attire, clothing and accessories
Spring Forward Attire and Food Drive drop offs
Jan. 26 – Feb. 27
Mondays – Fridays 9 a.m – 5 p.m.
Questions or need to coordinate a drop off? Reach out to alumni@utdallas.edu