As students are leaving Saint Joe’s for the summer, there’s something that isn’t: their stuff. This year the EcoReps have taken it upon themselves to collect donated goods from students moving out of the dorms and distributing those goods to local charities and non-profits, including GoodWill, Pink Feather, and the Standish Food Pantry. Combined, the EcoReps and their advisor, Energy Efficiency Coordinator, Heather Craig, have spent 115 hours over the past month collecting, sorting, and bringing items to organizations. The amount of donated items was staggering – many trips had to be made to each charitable organization.
The 2018 – 2019 EcoReps
EcoReps President Rachel Bruns and EcoReps Advisor Heather Craig taking a van full of donated items to GoodWill.
EcoReps President, Rachel Bruns, has held on to many of the items in the hopes of starting a free Monk’s Market next year. Students, staff, and faculty, could ‘shop’ at the market for free goods to decorate their offices or dorm rooms, and would be able to donate their own goods at any time.
Donated items that will be kept to start Monk’s Market.
Monk’s Market will encourage students to choose secondhand items, reducing their carbon footprint and promoting a shared community. Keep an eye out for more information on Monk’s Market!
Live performance by the Burnurwurbskek Singers
Tom Halstead from Allagash Brewing Co and Ali Mediate of Maine FoodScapes
SJC student with her new plant
Center for Sustainable Communities intern discussing the pollinator garden with SJC students
SJC students with bunnies from November’s Harvest
Farmer Myke and his babies
Plants from Old Wells Farm
SJC student adds her handprint to the Eco Reps mural
On Wednesday, April 24 at 6pm in the Auditorium, the CH245 Environmental Chemistry class, in conjunction with the Natural Resources Council of Maine, Lakes Environmental Association, Bridgton Books and the Green Store are hosting a screening of Bag It! The class will present results from a study of microplastics in the Presumpscot River. There will be door prizes!
In an effort to reduce single-use cups, Brewed Awakenings (the College’s coffee station located in Alfond Hall) now offers free coffee to students and employees who bring their own reusable cups. Faculty and staff members are also offered free coffee in Pearson’s Dining Hall if they bring a reusable cup. This initiative aims at reducing the number of individual coffee-makers operating in offices across campus and efforts are underway to eliminate all K-Cup Pods, which are not only expensive but are extremely harmful to the environment. By offering coffee in communal spaces, students and colleagues are encouraged to step away from their desks for a short break, stretch, and fuel up! 
