HWS News
18 June 2025 • Sustainability HWS Students Repurpose Items for Community Good
Sustainability meets service as students donate 10,000 pounds of goods to local nonprofits through this year’s Community Donation Effort.
As the academic year concluded, Hobart and William Smith once again reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and community partnership through the annual Community Donation Effort, coordinated by the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CCESL).
Originally known as the “HWS Barn Sale,” the initiative shifted during the pandemic to a direct donation model. Usable items left behind during student move-out are now distributed to local nonprofit organizations that serve families and individuals across the region.
“This effort reflects our commitment to people, planet and purpose,” says Peter Budmen, associate director of CCESL. “While some miss the original sale, we know the impact is greater now, ensuring essential items go directly to those who need them most.”
This year, 23 community organizations, such as Epic Zone, Geneva City School District, Geneva Reads, and Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes, received items such as mini-fridges, storage bins, cookware, and other household essentials. These donations help reduce financial strain on both agencies and their clients.
The initiative was supported by 14 Community Donation Stewards, trained student leaders who educated their peers, collected and sorted donations, and assisted community partners in loading their vehicles. In total, the effort diverted more than 10,000 pounds of material from local landfills.
“Moving into a dorm has become an exercise in consumerism,” says Julianna Thornburg '28, one of the stewards. “Social media often pushes new students to over-purchase. This experience challenged me to reflect on sustainability and what we truly need.”
Fellow stewards Maggie Mahoney '26 and Emily Echavarria '27 echo the program's deeper meaning. “As a Geneva local, I see firsthand how these donations support families and shelters,” says Mahoney. “It’s a powerful reminder of HWS’ commitment to our shared community.”
Echavarria adds, “As a future architect, this work inspires me. It reinforces the importance of sustainability in every aspect of life.”
By redirecting useful items and minimizing waste, the Community Donation Effort enables local organizations to invest more fully in their core missions. Joan Leonard, coordinator with the Office of Social Ministries, says all the items they received were immediately distributed—same day or next day—to their clients, who were “both in need and deeply appreciative. We are grateful for our long-standing partnership with the HWS Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning.”
Allauna Overstreet-Gibson ’15, program coordinator of The Partnership for Ontario County’s EPIC Zone Youth Clubhouse, echoes this gratitude. “Thanks to HWS’ generosity, we restocked snacks, clothing and shoes, and even provided our members with their own mini fridge, helping foster greater independence. We also upgraded our program spaces with rugs and chairs. Their support helps us sustain a safe, empowering environment for local youth.”
The Community Donation Effort takes place annually in May during student move-out. To receive updates or participate in future donation efforts, please contact serve@hws.edu.
