A graduating senior might not want to bring her college sheets and towels into her new post-commencement life. Or a family moving their son back home for the summer doesn’t have room in the wayback for a box of canned goods and microwave popcorn.
Rather than let these unwanted items end up in a dumpster and later a landfill, Siena organized collections to share them with local charities. This is the first year for the initiative, and its success will be built upon for future May move-outs.
Charlie Gaffney ’25 was involved with a number of sustainability efforts on campus during his four years as an environmental sciences major.
“As a student, it is deeply troubling seeing all of the perfectly good furniture, office supplies, toiletries and other items that go to waste upon moving out,” said Gaffney. “Because we were able to get this initiative off the ground this year, the hope is that we can scale up our donation efforts in years to come so that we as Saints reduce our waste and donate goods to Capital Region nonprofits that Siena already coordinates with through the Center for Academic Community Engagement.” (ACE)
ACE Director Allison Schultz, Ed.D. had been thinking along the same lines. She and Gaffney (an ACE associate and Siena Sustainability Scholar) worked with Facilities and ACE VISTA Victor Burgos to organize a collection of furniture, office and craft supplies, and shelf-stable food items for Habitat for Humanity, the Connect Center for Youth in Cohoes, and local food pantries.
“Many colleges have different models for collecting unwanted items at the end of the academic year,” explained Schultz. “This was Siena’s trial year to explore what works best for us and our local nonprofit partners. Next year, we would like to perhaps involve a sociology or social work class to help grow the effort. It was a success, and we want to build on it going forward.”
Librarian Ali Larsen headed up a collection specifically for the Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society – they are always in need of towels, flat sheets, blankets to help keep their animals cozy and dry. With the help of the Community Living team, collection boxes were set up in the library and in laundry rooms of most residence halls. Thanks to Saints’ generosity, about 20 50-gallon bags of items will be delivered soon to the shelter in Menands.
“Libraries are natural community connectors,” said Larsen. “Siena’s library is already pursuing sustainability efforts, and this new initiative fits in with the College’s mission to protect the earth by keeping items out of landfills and by serving all of creation. The campus community really got behind this, and it’s a great way for the library to make a difference.”