Ten Tons of Love drive begins April 27

Ten Tons of Love drive begins April 27April 24, 2009Eileen Jevisejevis@uc.syr.edu

Syracuse University students (both those living on and off campus), faculty and staff, and local community members are invited to donate clothing, nonperishable food, books and school supplies, and other used items in good condition to the Ten Tons of Love drive, which begins April 27 and continues through May 15. Materials collected will be distributed to local charities.

The 2008 effort collected nearly 38 tons of food, clothing, housewares and books. Additionally, 500 pairs of shoes and 12 truckloads of furniture were collected.

Recipients of donated items include Bethesda Temple Pentecostal Church, First English Food Pantry, Interfaith Works of CNY Center for New Americans, Mary Nelson’s Backpack Program, the Northside Clothes Closet, the Practical Assistance Program, the Refugee Resettlement Program and Transitional Living Services. Items will be sorted at First English Lutheran Church, 501 James St., Syracuse, before delivery to the charities, which will then share the donated goods with members of the Central New York community.

This ambitious effort would not be possible without the cooperation and support of many volunteers and community businesses. This year’s Ten Tons of Love is possible because of the support of the following businesses that donated their services: 1-800-Got-Junk, A La Mode, Auburn Tent Rental, Brown’s Moving and Storage, Charette Brothers, Eastwood Litho, Holy Shirt, Johnny’s Pizza, OCRRA, P&C, Sedgwick Business Interiors, SU Commissary, SU Food Services, SU Housing Zone, SU Material Distribution, SU Student Centers and Programming Services, Syracuse Banana, the Syracuse Department of Public Works, Syracuse Office Environments, Syracuse Teen Challenge, Sysco and ZJ’s Pizza.

The drive depends on the work of numerous volunteers to gather, transport and sort donated goods. Individuals who wish to volunteer can register at http://tentons.syr.edu.

SU donation efforts-including those in residence halls and off campus, and those conducted by Hendricks Chapel and the “If the Shoe Fits” Program, which encourages the donation of used athletic shoes-are combined under the Ten Tons umbrella. Items sought include clothing, bedding, sneakers, towels, kitchen supplies, backpacks, cell phones, furniture and nonperishable food items.

Off-campus pickup of large items can be arranged by calling (315) 443-1012. Drop-off locations on campus and off campus include all residence halls, Archbold Gymnasium, Hendricks Chapel, the Alibrandi Catholic Center, the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center, the Goldstein Student Center, the Office of Orientation and Off-Campus Programs, Westcott Community Center, Syracuse Stage and University College.

Chair of the drive is Darya Rotblat, interim director of the Office of Orientation and Off-Campus Programs, a principal unit of Student Affairs. For more information, contact Rotblat at 443-1012 or darotbla@syr.edu.