Sustainability Management intern Emma Kaputa and members of Catholic Charities unload bins of donations.
Over 30 bins of items were donated by students to ’Cuse Collections, an event hosted by Sustainability Management that provides the items to local community groups.
Containers were placed on North Campus and South Campus to provide Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students with easy access to donate items as they were moving out.
Often students do not have the space to transport everything home or realize they no longer need certain items. ’Cuse Collections helps to reduce the amount of waste generated and gives item a second life in the local community.
Leah Russell from the Syracuse Peacemaking Project loaded her trunk with donations.
The items (equivalent to over seven full pick-up truck beds) were donated to a number of local organizations, including the YWCA, Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities, Syracuse Peacemaking Project, Spanish Action League of Onondaga County, Huntington Family Center, John 6:12 and the Boys & Girls Club of Syracuse. Any food donations were taken to the South Campus food pantry.
“Most college students will read this and think it’s cheesy, but it’s true, I am really impressed by the thoughtfulness of those at my alma mater who took a moment, while rushing to clean out their dorm rooms to donate to ‘Cuse Collections and brighten the day of Syracuse’s most disadvantaged youth,” says Jim Hastie, director of fund development for the Boys & Girls Club of Syracuse. “Whether it was a stuffed animal, gently used clothing, sneakers or even closet hangers, our Club Kids were deeply moved to see Syracuse University students really care for their neighbors. Thank you!”
Sustainability Management hosts a smaller ’Cuse Collections in the Goldstein Student Center on South Campus in December; while the larger, main event is in the spring during finals week. Head to sustainability.syracuse.edu for more information.
