The Student Senate is asking students to donate food and clothing this holiday season for Santa Barbara’s annual Unity Shoppe food drive.

The drive, which ends on Dec. 16, will have collection boxes in the Campus Center, Luria Library entrance, and the Administration Building.

The Unity Shoppe helps over 14,000 underprivileged people a year who are unable to afford food, clothes, and toys for themselves and their families.

The shop needs $500,000 in food supplies to help Santa Barbara families during the holidays.

The shop’s shelves are pretty bare this year, said Ann Fryslie, director of Student Life. Fryslie also attributed the lack of donations to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.

“People give to the publicized catastrophes, and they have forgotten about their local communities,” said Fryslie.

This season, the Unity Shoppe specifically needs milk, canned foods, peanut butter, rice, and other nonperishable foods. Warm clothes and toiletries are also needed.

The Unity Shoppe is always looking for volunteers and donations.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.unityshoppe.org or call 965-4122.