thePULSEBy Cristal Steuer
Holy Cross and Goodwill Team Up for Earth Day
The College of the Holy Cross and Goodwill are teaming up for a donation drive April 16 and 17 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center parking lot #3.
In honor of Earth Day (April 22), the Holy Cross’ office of government and community relations encourages members of the College and Worcester communities to drop off gently-used clothing, accessories, household goods and decorative items. “Reusing is the first form of recycling,” shares Matthew Kennis, assistant director of government and community relations. “Donating will not only keep your items out of landfills, but it will also help the people in our community.”
Accepted items include:
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Accessories
- Linens
- CDs
- Books
- DVDs
- Small decorative items
- Small electronics
NOT accepted items include:
- Food
- Chemicals and other hazardous materials
- Large furniture (furniture donations can be bought to the Goodwill Store and Donation Center, located at 25 Park Avenue.)
- Computers and televisions
- Textbooks
- Children’s items including cribs, strollers, high chairs, pack and plays, car seats
About Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries: For more than a century, Goodwill (www.goodwillmass.org) has provided job training programs and partnered with the business community to provide meaningful work opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other barriers to self-sufficiency. In addition, Goodwill operates Boston Career Link, a one-stop career center, which offers universal access to a broad range of services for job seekers, individuals who are looking to advance or change careers, and employers seeking good job candidates. Goodwill also offers programs that foster academic achievement and career aspirations among urban youth. The Goodwill Stores in eastern and central Massachusetts provide jobs and on-the-job training opportunities. They offer quality, low-cost goods to individuals and families looking for value and support programs and services fulfilling Goodwill’s charitable mission.
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Third Annual Relay for Life
Students at the College of the Holy Cross will host its third annual Relay for Life from 5:45 p.m. on Friday, April 13 to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 14on the Hart Center track. “This year’s theme is birthdays,” shares Jackie Smith ’15, co-chair of the event. “We hope the Holy Cross and College Hill communities can join in the fight against cancer so that every cancer victim can celebrate another birthday.”
Relay for Life is a national event that is an overnight, relay-style event that raises money for the American Cancer Society, which is dedicated to providing cancer patients with the tools for research, education, advocacy, and services. Teams sign up online and can camp in tents overnight at the track. Although members of each team are not required to stay for the entire duration of the event, Relay for Life’s goal is to have at least one member of each team walking the track at all times to show the perseverance and strength that are needed to find a cure for cancer.
Although Holy Cross has organized a Relay for Life during the past two years, Smith anticipates that this will be the start of a bigger tradition at Holy Cross. “Holy Cross is very proud of its sense of community between the faculty, staff, and student body,” she shares. “I would love to see this campus come together in order to raise money and participate in such a great cause.”
In her hometown of Springfield, Mass., Smith was very active with Relay for Life throughout her high school years. In 2010, she chaired her local relay, which had more than 1000 participants, 50 survivors, 80 teams, and raised more than $85,000. In 2011, she set the bar even higher with over 1,500 participants, 55 survivors, 88 teams, and raised more than $100,000.
The goals for this year’s Relay for Life at Holy Cross is to have over 500 participants, 25 survivors, and raise at least $5000.
The speakers for the event include Marielle McKenna ’14, the ‘Fight Back’ speaker who will talk about her experience shaving her head to spread awareness for pediatric cancer through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation; and Lenore Montanaro ‘12, a three-time cancer survivor and volunteer with the John Montanaro Fund, which was started in honor of her brother who passed away from cancer.
To learn more about McKenna’s work: news.holycross.edu/blog/2012/01/16/holy-cross-sophomore-shaves-head-to-raise-awareness-for-pediatric-cancer/
To learn more about Montanaro’s work: news.holycross.edu/blog/2012/02/24/holy-cross-senior-recognized-for-service-to-the-community
Various campus groups will provide entertainment including The Delilahs, a female a cappella group, and student deejay Peter Issa ’13. There will be activities and games throughout the night including a moon bounce.
For more information, please contact Csteuer@holycross.edu.
About Holy Cross: The College of the Holy Cross (holycross.edu), located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is among the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions. A highly selective, four-year, exclusively undergraduate college of 2,800 students, Holy Cross is renowned for offering a rigorous, personalized education in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. Since its founding in 1843, Holy Cross has made a positive impact in society by graduating students who distinguish themselves as thoughtful leaders in business, professional and civic life.
Photo: The Wilbraham, MA Relay for Life, where Smith helped to raise more than $100,000.
