Spring Break
Final results tallied from community efforts
Kayleigh Zyskowski/Activities Editor
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: News
The recycling has been weighed and the canned goods have been sent, finalizing the community service events from Homecoming Week 2009.
Barbara Harrington, community relations co-chair for the Homecoming committee, said she was impressed with the feedback of the week.
The "Paws for a Cause" event went above and beyond everyone's expectations, Harrington said.
"We set a goal for one ton of recyclables, which is 2,000 pounds, and we were pretty much told that was a huge goal, but we met that within the first hour," Harrington said. "We had 5,664 pounds total, which is over two and a half tons."
Ryan Seigel, the campus energy and sustainability coordinator, said he was overwhelmed as well.
"We had people still weighing and cleaning up until Friday," Seigel said. "There was about three-and-a-half dump trucks of cardboard alone."
Once the recycling goes through the Eastern facilities, the various materials were shipped to different companies and organizations in the area.
The paper and cardboard was sent to CCAR Industries in Charleston for sorting and processing, the aluminum was sent to Ham's metal in Mattoon and the plastics were sent to Veolia, Seigel said.
Eastern will see a money return from the recycling collected and sent out.
"Eastern has an agreement in which when the commodities are sold, Eastern receives some of the return," Siegel said. "This then comes back to pay for student employees to collect more material."
HOPE of East Central Illinois, located in Charleston, also benefited from Homecoming benefits. The "Hoops for HOPE," held on Thursday evening, helped earn money for HOPE.
The Hoops for HOPE event collected canned goods and raised about $200 in cash, with no solicitation for the money, said housing program director Angie Hunt.
"They did a donation drive for canned food and toiletries, but even more importantly it's about awareness and letting people know that we are here and what we do," Hunt said. "Domestic violence is an issue we need to pay attention to."
The organization helps victims of domestic violence live independently, Hunt said
"We are the local domestic violence agency," Hunt said. "We provide a wide range of services."
This includes an emergency domestic violence shelter, a 24-hour crisis line, legal advocacy, individual and group counseling for adults and children. The 24-hour crisis line number is 1-888-345-3990.
"People came and donated the canned goods, but some were so generous they gave money," Hunt said. "We really hope this becomes an event every year."
Harrington said she wished more people came to the event.
"It is nice to have the community and campus come together for an event, but we would like to see a lot more people from the community attend next year," Harrington said. "Unfortunately our school doesn't have a lot of school spirit and it's really hard to get people to come out to events unless they are in an organization that's competing for points. It's disheartening to do a charity event and have most of the people leave after the points are taken before the event is even over."
At the "T-Shirt Swap" held throughout the week, the committee collected about 30 shirts, Harrington said.
"We were hoping to collect enough shirts to be able to divide up the shirts, but instead we will probably just send the shirts we have to the Salvation Army in Mattoon," Harrington said.
The original goal had been for 300 shirts. Students were given the opportunity to trade in old T-shirts and in return, receive a new spirit shirt.
"Now that we have done these events, we have learned what works and what to do for next year to get a better response," Harrington said.
Eastern's campus needs to remember that Charleston and the campus are one community, Harrington said.
"Charleston puts up with us all school year and a lot of times during the summer," Harrington said. "We wanted to do something for them and make everyone feel like one community."
Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7943 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu.
Barbara Harrington, community relations co-chair for the Homecoming committee, said she was impressed with the feedback of the week.
The "Paws for a Cause" event went above and beyond everyone's expectations, Harrington said.
"We set a goal for one ton of recyclables, which is 2,000 pounds, and we were pretty much told that was a huge goal, but we met that within the first hour," Harrington said. "We had 5,664 pounds total, which is over two and a half tons."
Ryan Seigel, the campus energy and sustainability coordinator, said he was overwhelmed as well.
"We had people still weighing and cleaning up until Friday," Seigel said. "There was about three-and-a-half dump trucks of cardboard alone."
Once the recycling goes through the Eastern facilities, the various materials were shipped to different companies and organizations in the area.
The paper and cardboard was sent to CCAR Industries in Charleston for sorting and processing, the aluminum was sent to Ham's metal in Mattoon and the plastics were sent to Veolia, Seigel said.
Eastern will see a money return from the recycling collected and sent out.
"Eastern has an agreement in which when the commodities are sold, Eastern receives some of the return," Siegel said. "This then comes back to pay for student employees to collect more material."
HOPE of East Central Illinois, located in Charleston, also benefited from Homecoming benefits. The "Hoops for HOPE," held on Thursday evening, helped earn money for HOPE.
The Hoops for HOPE event collected canned goods and raised about $200 in cash, with no solicitation for the money, said housing program director Angie Hunt.
"They did a donation drive for canned food and toiletries, but even more importantly it's about awareness and letting people know that we are here and what we do," Hunt said. "Domestic violence is an issue we need to pay attention to."
The organization helps victims of domestic violence live independently, Hunt said
"We are the local domestic violence agency," Hunt said. "We provide a wide range of services."
This includes an emergency domestic violence shelter, a 24-hour crisis line, legal advocacy, individual and group counseling for adults and children. The 24-hour crisis line number is 1-888-345-3990.
"People came and donated the canned goods, but some were so generous they gave money," Hunt said. "We really hope this becomes an event every year."
Harrington said she wished more people came to the event.
"It is nice to have the community and campus come together for an event, but we would like to see a lot more people from the community attend next year," Harrington said. "Unfortunately our school doesn't have a lot of school spirit and it's really hard to get people to come out to events unless they are in an organization that's competing for points. It's disheartening to do a charity event and have most of the people leave after the points are taken before the event is even over."
At the "T-Shirt Swap" held throughout the week, the committee collected about 30 shirts, Harrington said.
"We were hoping to collect enough shirts to be able to divide up the shirts, but instead we will probably just send the shirts we have to the Salvation Army in Mattoon," Harrington said.
The original goal had been for 300 shirts. Students were given the opportunity to trade in old T-shirts and in return, receive a new spirit shirt.
"Now that we have done these events, we have learned what works and what to do for next year to get a better response," Harrington said.
Eastern's campus needs to remember that Charleston and the campus are one community, Harrington said.
"Charleston puts up with us all school year and a lot of times during the summer," Harrington said. "We wanted to do something for them and make everyone feel like one community."
Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7943 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu.
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