Hi,
There are so many documents, internet sites and even tutorial videos about basic transistor operation, basic connection schemes and part value calculation.
This are very basic things, thus a simple internet search will answer all your questions. Did you ever try to use this huge source of information?
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One problem for us (or at least me) is, that you give very vage and confusing informations.
Please give us a schematic that exactly shows your situation....with voltages...and input circuit and output circuit.
Depending on your load requirements the MAXxxxx IC may be able to sink 500...5000uA ... this is more than "a few".
Btw: even a cheap standard logic shift register (like 74xx595) may sink more current.
Klaus