Semester-End Throw-out Blowout
by: Yonathan Tarekegne ‘13Circle K International, other organizations set up donation bins for books, encourage donating other items
On a warm Sunday evening, I make my way to Morton Hall where Osric Forrest—president of Circle K International—had agreed to meet with me for a quick talk on a certain campus wide service project his club has been taking part in. Apparently, a coalition of service organizations—namely Good Men Good Citizens, Circle K International, and the Rotary Club—have been putting together a project to finish the year strong. Walking into the writing center where Osric works as a rhetoric tutor, I am surprised to find him all alone in the quiet basement. “I thought Greek Week was over? No customers?” I tease, grabbing a seat.
“Not yet,” he replies. After exchanging greetings and weekend stories, we slowly make our way to the project. As the name so accurately suggest, the project’s main goal is to collect the stuff thrown out at the end of the year, when students move out, and put it to better use. “Guys leave a lot of usable stuff like couches, futons, and chairs in the end of the year. We—[the service organizations, that is]—plan on collecting them to recycle some of them, to donate some to other organizations, and to hold a yard sell in June.” The project, as Osric puts it, is not only environmentally conscious, but also “cost effective.” Normally, Building and Grounds is assigned with the inefficient task of paying contractors to gather up and dispose of perfectly reusable furniture and other appliances. So, by collecting these leftovers and donating them, the project also saves the schools money. “Longwood has been doing it for a couple of years,” he comments his eye veering to the students who just walked in. To Osric’s disappointment, though, the student doesn’t request any aid.
We quickly vacate the computer area and relocate to the rectangular table and Osric continues: “there will be collection boxes near Crawley for the Alphabets, behind Cushing, Venable, and….”
“White House?”
“Probably,” he mumbles. Curious as to whether other students will be able to buy these leftovers or not, I ask. “Sure, it doesn’t inhibit dumpster diving, either.” Despite his reluctance to talk about Circle K, I press him to tell me about what the organization has been up to. After several attempts, he cracks: “projects like March of the Dimes, the Book Drive, and the Clothing Drive” the group has organized in the couple of months it has been running. “We are basically trying to save the world,” he jokes. Before I part, he suggests I pay either Dr. Rachel Goodman or Dr. Janice Siegel a visit for more information on the matter.
The next day, I stumble into Gilmer, very unprofessionally, to see if Dr. Goodman was willing to sit down and talk with me about the project. She kindly agrees and we proceed to the porch where she gives me some details. “The goal is to reduce the waste that happens at the end of the year. We plan to donate them to several organizations: food will go to FACES (Farmville Area Community Emergency Services), furniture and other miscellaneous things to Habitat for Humanity, the Book Drive will be on going, and the Cloth Drive to the Haiti fund.” Dr. Goodman tells me about the environmental, social good that the project serves. “Helps the college out,” she adds. In closing she mentions all those involved in the project including Dr. Siegel, CKI, GMGC, Rotary club, and Buildings and Grounds. She also encourages students not to throw stuff away, but to consider the option of donating it.
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