Updated Thursday, December 4, 2025

The holiday season is a wonderful time to come together and support our community. Austin Community College District (ACC) offers several opportunities for faculty and staff to give back and for students to experience the holiday cheer.

Thank you for your generosity and continued dedication to our students.

Ways to Support Our Students

December 1-10 | Winter Break Meal Kits

The Basic Needs team is coordinating shelf-stable meal kits for students to support their families while the ACC Food Pantry is closed during the winter break.

  • What to Donate: Each campus will be assigned specific meals to create. Campus Managers will share a spreadsheet with details on needed items during the week of November 17.
  • Donation Window: December 1 – December 10
  • Donation Drop-Off Locations: Donations can be submitted to any of ACC’s 11 campus Food Pantry locations.

The Basic Needs team will build out the meal kits for distribution December 11-13. Meal kits will be available to students on all campuses on a first-come-first-served basis the week of December 15. 

Sign up to volunteer or donate using the linked form.

Upcoming Student Holiday Events

We encourage you to make students aware of these upcoming campus activities.

Thanksgiving Grab & Go + Crafts
Date: Monday, November 24
Time: 2–4 p.m.
Location: Highland Campus – Student Life (Building 1000, Room 2221)

ACC Music Presents: Annual Holiday Big Sing
This family-friendly event features performances by ACC music students and faculty, festive sing-alongs, a Santa Claus visit, and free hot chocolate and candy canes. Entry is free, and attendees are encouraged to donate an unwrapped toy to benefit Travis County Brown Santa.
Date: Friday, December 5
Time: 7 p.m. (Doors open for pre-show at 6:30 p.m.)
Location: Highland Campus – Building 4000 Student Commons
Details: Big Holiday Sing web page

Winter Holiday Bash
Hays Campus: Friday, December 12 | 2–5 p.m. (Building 1000, Student Commons Area)
Round Rock Campus: Friday, December 12 | 4–6 p.m. (Building 8000, Room 8202)

Holidays Around the World with the Military Family Center
Date: Friday, December 12 | 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Location: Highland Campus – Military Family Center (Building 4000, Room 4.2115)
RSVP HERE

Past Opportunities

Through Monday, November 17 | 31st Annual ACC Giving Tree

The Giving Tree is an ACC tradition to share holiday spirit by providing gifts or gift cards to the children of parenting students who are supported by the ACC Advocacy team. There are only a few slots left. There are also family gift card sponsorship opportunities available at most campuses.

How to participate:

  1. View the Google Spreadsheet: Navigate to the tab for your campus and select a child to sponsor for the holidays. All virtual tags will include the child’s name, age, gender, and gift ideas or a wishlist. 
  2. Add Your Name: Once you’ve chosen a child or a family, add your name and email address in the “Staff Name” column.
  3. Select a Gift: Click on the Wishlist Link for your chosen child (if available) and pick a gift from the list or choose from the provided gift ideas. Some students have created wish lists, while others have shared general ideas.
  4. Choose Delivery Method: Some wish lists may allow you to ship the gift directly to the student’s address. Once you’ve decided on the delivery method, update the “Method of Delivery” column in the spreadsheet.
  5. Wrap and Drop Off: If you’re shipping the gift to your address or have chosen a child without a wishlist, wrap the gift and drop it off at any Student Advocacy Center office.

The deadline to ship or drop off gifts is Monday, December 1.

Wednesday, November 19 | Holidays Around the World Toy Drive

The ACC District Police Department is collecting gifts for the ACC Military Families Center’s Holidays Around the World event on December 12—a festive celebration for our students, military families, parenting students, and local first responders.

To help make this event a success, ACCDPD has a goal to collect 150 toys to ensure every child at the event receives a gift. 

  • What to Donate: New, unwrapped toys for children from newborn to 15 years old are encouraged. Monetary donations and gift cards are also accepted.
  • Donation Window: Wednesday, November 19, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Donation Drop-Off Locations: Drop off at the ACC Military Families Center, Highland Campus, Building 4000

Through November 25 | Project Warmth: Student Life Blanket Drive

ACC’s Student Life invites faculty and staff to join Project Warmth: Student Life Blanket Drive to help bring comfort and warmth to students and the community during the colder months.

  • What to Donate: New or gently used blankets—every blanket, whether fleece or quilt, makes a meaningful difference. 
  • Donation Window: Now until November 25
  • Donation Drop-Off Locations:
    • Highland Student Life Lounge: Building 1000, Room 2221
    • Highland Accelerator: Building 1000, downstairs
    • Rio Grande Student Life Lounge: Building 1000, Room 1009
    • Cypress Creek Student Life Lounge: Building 1000, Room 1121
    • Elgin Student Life Lounge: Main Building, Room 1181

If you know a student who could benefit from additional support or resources this season, please reach out to the Advocacy Team at [email protected].