Hobart and William Smith Colleges

17 June 2008 Students Go Green, Give Back

Honoring both the Presidents Climate Commitment and Geneva Partnership initiatives, Hobart and William Smith Colleges recently held their third annual Barn Sale on May 22. The Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning organized the sale to raise money for the United Way of Ontario County, and as an added bonus, the Barn Sale provided an easy way for students and community members to go green by recycling items instead of throwing them in the trash. The Barn Sale raised more than $5,000 for United Way programs this year. Projects such as these show what a caring campus community we have and how when we are all working together we can make a difference in the lives of others, says Ave Bauder 81, Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning. This years sale included a wide variety of items, including everything from furniture and appliances to study carrels and pool toys. Many of the items were furnished by the library, which is currently undergoing a major renovation on the first and ground floors. In addition, students donated their gently-used clothing and non-perishable food items to local food pantries and clothing closets. Bauder hopes to continue the annual Barn Sale for years to come. Weve now got the community into the tradition, he says. Bauder also hopes to increase the number of student volunteers working at the Barn Sale annually. A full 75 percent of HWS students participate in community service before they graduate. On average, HWS students participate in 34,000 hours of service over course of year through popular programs, such as America Reads and Habitat for Humanity. Its so easy to get involved in community service, and theres so much to do, Bauder says. Just check out the Web site, stop by the office or give us a suggestion.