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Every day is Earth Day
Earth Day has passed, but Skidmore's Sustainability Coordinator Erica Fuller is not kicking back. That's because Fuller, who joined the Skidmore community early in the spring semester, is dedicated to making environmental awareness a top priority for everyone, every day.
Her goal is to make every day earth day at Skidmore.
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| Erica Fuller |
In addition, Fuller developed a Sustainability Web site to help people become knowledgeable about how their activities affect the environment, both on campus and off. She explained, "The site will be a clearinghouse for information about sustainability issues on campus, and will provide resources to people who want to learn more about sustainability issues." She plans to maintain "a dynamic site" with regular updates of events and opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.
One big event on the horizon has significant environmental and community implications, according to Fuller. The second annual "Give and Go" program will soon get under way. Skidmore will again partner with the local chapter of the Salvation Army on a campus cleanup and fundraising initiative. The idea is to divert used goods that students leave behind at the end of the year from the landfill to the Salvation Army, where resale of the goods will lead to new life for the items and funds for a community agency.
"Give and Go" begins when students start moving out of the residence halls at the end of the academic year. Last year, they were encouraged to consider whether their cast-offs—things that were still useable and in good shape but were not going with the students once they left campus—could be donated to the Salvation Army. The organization accepted all donated items (which totaled five vanloads) in good condition for a tag sale that netted $2,000.
This year, Fuller said, "We hope to collect more stuff." An informational campaign using e-mail, Facebook announcements, and meetings with Residential Life staff and members of the Campus Quality Committee are designed to help students and staff who wish learn more about what's acceptable to donate.
Said Fuller, "We don't want trash, but we will accept reusable goods. For example, clean clothes that are wearable. Area rugs, lamps, and furniture in good condition, computer printers, and small appliances, like dorm-size refrigerators, and unopened packages of food."
Unacceptable items include anything that is broken, pillows, open food containers, socks, and underwear.
Faculty and staff who wish to donate items are welcome to do so. They may bring their goods directly to the Salvation Army on Woodlawn Avenue. On-campus collections will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 10; from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, May 16; and from 9 to 10 a.m. Sunday, May 18. Through the help of Purchasing Director Carol Schnitzer, Liedke Moving Co. has donated two movers and two trucks to assist the effort. Fuller called the donation "huge," and added, "we'd love volunteer help on the project."
"It's just unbelievable how much stuff gets left behind" in the residence halls, she said. "Give and Go enables Skidmore to help the larger Saratoga Springs community, relieves pressure on the landfill, and at the same time, allows the campus to be turned over more quickly for all the summer programs that begin right after Commencement," she added.
For more details on the program, or to volunteer, please contact Fuller at ext. 5865 or efuller@skidmore.edu.
Tags: sustainability, environment, erica fuller
