Posing with some of the items the UMSL Staff Association collected for Stray Rescue are (from left) Staff Council member Lisa Taylor, Vice President Mary Tackett, President Nick Palisch and council member Linda Stein. (Photo courtesy of Nick Palisch)

In countless ways throughout the year, faculty, staff and students at the University of Missouri–St. Louis find avenues for making a difference within the larger St. Louis community.

Most often these efforts – like the MLK Day of Service earlier this week – focus on uplifting, engaging with and providing service to people who need it most.

This past holiday season, however, the UMSL Staff Association and Council stepped up to help a different type of community member in need – the four-legged kind.

They responded to a call for help put out by Stray Rescue, a no-kill animal rescue operation committed to the saving and rehabilitation of many of the St. Louis area’s most abused and neglected animals.

“Distemper hits Stray Rescue – We need you,” read a late-October headline on the organization’s website. They announced a need to temporarily suspend taking in new dogs and cats so that they could focus on providing the most comprehensive care to the nearly 400 already in their custody.

Funds and equipment to help fuel efforts to combat the deadly outbreak were greatly needed. Regular shelter supplies – kitty litter, blankets, dish-washing detergent and more – were in high demand.

The UMSL Staff Association, under the leadership of President Nick Palisch, got to work.

“We are a campus community that believes in helping out when the cause arises,” Palisch said of the choice to support Stray Rescue. “When we heard about the distemper outbreak, we wanted to be a part of meeting that need.”

Thus, 10 drop-off locations across UMSL were established, from Human Resources on North Campus to the Nursing Administration Building on South Campus, and a call for donations went out.

In just under three weeks’ time, more than 170 items rolled in — with the College of Nursing earning bragging rights for donating the greatest amount.

Asked to reflect about the outcome of the efforts, Palisch went on to say that while he was pleased with the outpouring of support from staff and faculty as well, he was not entirely surprised.

“In my tenure as president I have been nothing but impressed with the staff here. I believe that we are all committed to the university as well as the community. The success of this donation drive further proves that that commitment is alive and well here at UMSL.”