Student Wins Stonyfield Grant for Local Boys and Girls Clubs

After reading about the yogurt lid-collecting competition “Double Play” on the back of her Stonyfield yogurt cup, Catherine Elliot ’12 galvanized students to collect over 4,600 lids and win Bates a $50,000 grant to fund a play space for the Lewiston/Auburn Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine.
KaBOOM! and Stonyfield Farm, co-sponsors of the competition, awarded another $50,000 grant to Laurel Elementary School in Maryland.
For Elliot – a former Girl Scout and planner of a 65-hour community event for her Gold Award Project – organizing the Stonyfield competition simply ran parallel to her interests.
“I saw the opportunity to, with relative ease, provide a huge service to the Lewiston/Auburn community,” she said. “I thought that a lot of good could come from this, and it didn’t seem like it would be too time intensive.”
Elliot discovered the Boys & Girls Club after several Google searches. With its 260-plus members, the Club runs a series of after-school programs for at-risk children.
“We do everything from homework help to activities like photography, cooking and sports,” said Andie Hannon, Unit Director of the Clubhouse. “We are very big on character and leadership development.”
With a 15-year-old gymnasium floor and decrepit side-yard, the Clubhouse is in desperate need of refurbishment.
“That gym is used every single day of the year unless we’re shut down for Christmas break,” Hannon said. “The yard gets used seasonally.”
Besides revamping the gym, Hannon intends to plant a garden in the side-yard where children can cultivate fresh vegetables for cooking and to learn about organic science.
Elliot entered the organization into the “Double Play” program upon reading its mission statement and recognizing their need for assistance.
“It seemed like as good of an organization as any to receive the grant,” Elliot said.
After contacting Hannon and getting her on board, Elliot announced the project to Clubhouse members at their annual Thanksgiving potluck.
“There were over 100 people at the dinner,” said Hannon, who prepared a substantial portion of the feast with Clubhouse members. “I think it was very eye-opening for Catherine to see the strong connection between families and kids.”
After getting the green light from Dining Services Director Christine Schwartz, Elliot set up a lid collection box near the silverware and napkin drop-off area in Commons.
“It really did not take too much preparation,” said Schwartz. “Catherine gave us advertisements which we attached to boxes at the tray window for individuals to put their tops in. Inside the dish room the workers collected what additional lids came through and put them in a bag.”
What Elliot failed to anticipate was the time and effort involved in washing and storing the yogurt lids. From November through December, Elliot spent an average of four hours a week washing the lids in the basement kitchen of her dorm.
“I underestimated how difficult it would be to wash them. I set up our little room fan so that they would dry,” she said.
Hannon was shocked when she received a phone call from Stonyfield interested in interviewing the final candidates.
“I was very excited when I found out that we had won,” said Elliot. “I honestly wasn’t expecting it. I was in some degree of disbelief knowing that I, a first-year student new to the community, could make such a difference in the lives of these underprivileged kids.”
Hannon believes the grant will positively impact the community.
“More than anything, this project is going to energize our kids and energize their families,” she said. “It will open the door to getting our kids involved in sports and bring everyone together.”
Although KaBOOM! will provide sustainable, environmentally friendly materials to revamp the garden and gym, it is entirely up to the Boys & Girls Club to mobilize the volunteer base required to refurbish.
“Honestly, I don’t think we’re going to have a lot of trouble getting together a crowd,” said Hannon.
“The community recognizes what we do. We’ll be getting parents involved and, most importantly, Bates students involved.”
Elliot has already promised to “get a Bates contingent together” to aid the reconstruction process.
The “Double Play” competition stipulated that grant recipients adopt an on-sight recycling program. The Boys & Girls Club, however, is a step ahead.
“We already do it,” said Hannon, who recycles everything from cardboard to ink cartridges to food. “Our club is used to living on a really tight budget. If it can be recycled, it is recycled.”
Hannon is impressed with Elliot’s overall initiative in organizing the project and her effort throughout the competition.
“I thought it was endearing and awesome that she was stepping up to the plate like this and that Bates stepped up right behind her,” said Hannon. “You can hold her up as an example to the kids and say ‘anything is possible if you try.’ It goes hand in hand with our mission to inspire people.”
As an active member of Bates Students Against Poverty (BSAP), she intends to continue her tradition of supporting the community. “I will definitely be reading my yogurt lids from now on,” she said.
 

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