Shambhu Sharan
Issue date: 11/26/08
Eastfield’s Environmental Awareness Club participated in the Recycle Day event on Nov. 15 at Poteet High School.
The ten club members collected paper, plastic, clothing, toys and electronic accessories from Eastfield students, faculty, staff and community. They helped load and unload the recyclables at the high school.
Computers, printers, microwaves, books, papers and plastics were brought to the school and 50 people helped to load to the trucks.
“We collected cell phones, cartridge, tiers, books, toys, and personal items from the students, staff and Eastfield community,” education sophomore Jaqueline Palma said. “I did not know about recycling before.”
Another member of the club, accounting/business management sophomore Nellie Udensi, believes Recycling Day is a part of community service.
“It is going to help individuals and society,” Udensie said. “We need people to care about the environment. We borrow from community and we should give back as a part of community service.”
Electronic engineering major Carlos Mendoza helped unload the trucks with paper, plastics and electronics and separated them.
“Today was so great because we are helping out,” Mendoza said. “I think I had such a great time because I was doing it for the community. I was pleased to see that we had a very good turnout for the event though.
It is freezing cold and windy. I think a lot of people should help the earth to stay green.”
Also engineering student, K.C. Prawal, enjoyed helping with the event.
“It was fun,” Prawal said. “I like helping out and recycling. I recycled computers.”
President of the club, education major Elizabeth Ringham, and the club advisor, biology professor Jose Flores also helped with the event.
“I went to different departments, picked up recyclable goods, separated and brought it to the high school along with my ten-year-old son and other club members,” Ringham said.
Amy McDonald, Eastfield marketing and advertising coordinator and board member of Keep Mesquite Beautiful, advised the volunteers about what they should be doing for the Recycle Day.
“The goal is to promote reusing, recycling and beautification of the City of Mesquite,” McDonald said. “We donated the recycled goods to various service, non-profit organizations.”
Eastfield staff helped the club to gather and store the recyclable items.
“We thank facility supervisor Mike Washington and facility contractors for helping gather recyclable materials and storing them in the storage area,” Ringham said.
Other community members also helped during the Recycle Day. Mesquite Public Library Interim Director Jeannie Johnson volunteered and raised money by selling books for the City of Mesquite.
“Recycling is good for the environment,” Johnson said.
The Lions Club, Arc Environmental, Friends of Mesquite Library and Mesquite Social Services received eyeglasses, electronics, ink-cartridges, books and canned foods to sell or recycle.
Club members learned recycling while volunteering for the event.
“Today I learned how to do recycling,” Palma said.
The club wants to do more activities on campus in future.
“Our biggest project is to make butterfly habitats at Eastfield and bring guest speakers,” Ringham said.
The Recycle Day is a community event that is held each spring and fall.
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