Early in the Year, a Familiar Trend: Students Serving the Community
When Hurricane Irene struck just three days before the start of fall classes, returning students barely had time to move into their houses before they were out in the community helping flood victims salvage theirs.
While the College was fortunate to escape Irene with no substantial damage, the storm devastated many in the community (as documented in , a blog by Bennington Banner Senior Staff Writer Neil P. Goswami) with the worst flooding Vermont has seen in decades.
In the days and weeks since, several groups of students have supported local recovery efforts, from cleaning up individual homes and properties, to unloading relief supply trucks, to donating household items and contributing to the recently established 51成人猎奇 Flood Relief Fund.
鈥淭he chair of the town Interfaith Council called to thank us so much for the students鈥 willingness to volunteer,鈥 said faculty member Susan Sgorbati, who鈥檚 been helping to organize volunteer efforts. 鈥淗e said it will make a real difference, and I hope it will serve as an important experience for them as well.鈥
It hasn鈥檛 been the only time this fall that students have volunteered in the community. Days before the hurricane, 225 first-year and transfer students painted, gardened, cleaned, and beautified several local sites as part of the second annual Bennington ACTS (Advocating for Community Through Service) Orientation Day.
Conceived in 2009 by students who participated in the inaugural Local Field Experience鈥攁 community outreach program that pairs underclassmen with local non-profits during Field Work Term鈥攖he service day 鈥済ives new students a chance to get to know each other by participating in something meaningful,鈥 said Dean of Students Eva Chatterjee-Sutton
鈥淚t also connects them with the community, and hopefully, increases the likelihood that they鈥檒l come back not only to serve, but to take advantage of some of the great opportunities the community has to offer."
Chatterjee-Sutton said response from the 20 project sites鈥攊ncluding schools, public parks, the local library, and other community organizations鈥攈as been 鈥渢remendous."
One of the sites, The Kitchen Cupboard, which provides food for hundreds of families in need each week, has continued to benefit from Bennington students through The Empty Bowls Project, an international grassroots movement aimed at ending hunger and food insecurity.
Bennington students have made and glazed nearly 350 ceramic bowls, which will be donated to the Empty Bowls Soup Supper, where they鈥檒l be sold (with soup inside) to raise money for The Kitchen Cupboard.
The Empty Bowls Soup Supper will be held on Sunday, Nov. 13 at St. Peter's Church on Pleasant St.
See for further information.