Providence College students donated more than 2½ tons of food and clothing for recycling purposes during the annual end-of-year collection coordinated by the College's Office of Environmental Health & Safety's (EHS) Recycling Program and the Office of Residence Life.

Students contributed approximately 2,600 pounds of non-perishable food items and approximately 2,800 pounds of clothing, easily surpassing last year's totals of approximately 2,500 pounds each of food and clothing.

"I am just amazed at how much was donated. It says a lot about our students . . . that they are thinking of the needs of others," said Gregory S. Myers, environmental compliance officer in the EHS office.

The food was donated to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, while the clothing was given to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The food bank serves approximately 51,000 needy Rhode Islanders each month. Food items are distributed by local agencies across the state to meal sites, food pantries, and shelters.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence's Diocesan Council coordinated the pickup of clothing at PC for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. According to James Martufi, Diocesan Council president, donated items are sorted and distributed to local thrift stores and countries throughout the world. The international society, which is observing its 175th anniversary, serves 143 nations.

The campus food and clothing collections, which began the second week of May, were coordinated by EHS and residence life staff members. Boxes were set up in the lobbies of all residence facilities on campus.

The annual collection for charity was established in 2001 by Gale A. Gennaro, director of environmental health & safety, who oversees the College's recycling efforts.

Mattresses, beds also recycled
In a related initiative, the offices of residence life and environmental health & safety collaborated on a recycling project involving used bedding and kitchen appliances from the College's residential facilities. Approximately 200 used mattresses, beds, and appliances such as stoves and refrigerators were donated to the Hope of Life Ministries in Providence at the end of the academic year.

The mattresses, beds, and appliances will be shipped to various locations in Central America for use by citizens in those countries.

The project was coordinated by Kevin Hillery, assistant dean of residence life, and Thomas E. Schenck, EHS health and safety coordinator.