Moving Out? Don’t Trash it! Recycle it!
It’s the end of the academic year, and besides term papers and finals, there’s a greater challenge that looms over students’ heads. It lurks behind closed doors. As students move out of dorms and apartments, many will face a year’s worth of unwanted items.
Fortunately, a Rider University class has devised a plan to reduce the amount of waste on campus while helping the surrounding community at the same time. Students in Foundations of Leadership (LDP 200) will hold “Don’t trash it! Recycle it for those who need it!” on Friday, April 25, on the Lawrenceville campus.
The class, along with the aid of campus organizations, will collect furniture, electronics in working condition, clothing, cleaning products and food. The items will then be donated to HomeFront, a Lawrenceville-based organization that aims to end homelessness in Central New Jersey by harnessing the caring, resources and expertise of the community. The class project aims to not only help others, but the environment as well.
“We are trying to reduce waste and donate to those who will have a better use for these items,” said Mike DeStefano of Raritan, N.J., a freshman Global Business major in the class.”
Each year, students registered for LDP 200 must devise a required community service project stemming from the University tenet that real leadership is derived from service to others.
“There’s no better way for us to give service to others than by doing a community service project for the Mercer County area,” said LDP Director and class instructor Dr. Marc Wallace.
The service project evolved from an idea proposed by Dr. Laura Hyatt, associate professor of Biology, to one of the students, sophomore Finance and Management major Erin Bethke of Hamilton, N.J., to work on a sustainability project.
“I think it’s really important to give students an opportunity to work on projects concerning environmental sustainability,” Hyatt said. These types of projects allow students to experience service, social responsibility and an understanding of what it means to be a leader, she explained.
The class began planning for the service project the second week of the semester, contacting HomeFront, soliciting help from other organizations and getting the word out about the event. Throughout the semester, Wallace saw leaders emerging and working to ensure the endeavor would be successful.
“It’s a group effort,” said Rose Indoe of Sussex, N.J., a sophomore Accounting and Finance double major. The class taught Indoe leadership abilities, including communication skills, team building, as well as organizing a task.
The rest of the LDP class includes: Douglas Bradley of Levittown, Pa., a senior Accounting major; Mitchel Buonpastore of Doylestown, Pa., a freshman Accounting major; Allyson Cook of Nesconset, N.Y., a freshman Secondary Education English major; Kimberly Doerrhoefer of Howell, N.J., a freshman Finance and Management major; Lauren Gregorio of Howell, N.J., a freshman Secondary Education Mathematics major; Kristie Kahl of Cinnaminson, N.J., a sophomore Communication major; Megan McBride of Nutley, N.J., a junior Elementary Education INTSC major; Ingrid Rincon of Hillsborough, N.J., a sophomore Global Business and Accounting major; Yaroslav Teslenko of Hillsborough, N.J., a freshman Finance International Business major; Breslin White, of Butler, N.J., a sophomore English major
A number of campus organizations will also participate in the project, including the Leadership Development Program, Emerging Leaders, Rider Community Scholars/Bonner Leaders, Sustainable Rider Environmental Club, Multicultural Leadership Institute, Catholic Campus Ministry, Tau Kappa Epsilon and On Fire!!, the Literary Journal of the African Diaspora.
Students can leave items at designated drop-off sites, between the following buildings, between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
- New Hill Building, Hill, and Ziegler
- Conover, Switlik, and Olson
- Gee and Lincoln
- Kroner and Wright
- Sorority houses
- Poyda, The Ridge House, The Lake House, Fraternities
Each donor will be entered into a raffle for a signed basketball by Rider basketball star Jason Thompson, bowling tickets, Johnson & Johnson gift basket, and other gift certificates.
Anita Hanft, director of Mission Advancement at HomeFront, said the nonprofit organization appreciates the support of the Rider students.
“It shows a deep understanding with college students that we are all in this together,” said Hanft about the need to help end the cycle of poverty and homelessness in the Mercer County area.
LDP 200 is the first course offered in the Leadership Development Program, which combines academic learning with skill training and leadership experience through co-curricular activities, experiential learning, fieldwork and community service.
Ira Mayo, associate dean of freshmen, said these types of service activities not only allow Rider to stay connected to the surrounding community but also allow students to apply what they have learned to real world experiences.
“Experiential learning is the kind of education that is invaluable to our students,” Mayo said.
For more information about HomeFront, go to http://www.homefrontnj.org.
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