By Steve Seepersaud
The 434 Greenway — a trail running along the parkway from its origin on Binghamton's South Side into Vestal — has become one of the area's most popular running and biking spots. Like other park spaces, the Greenway attracts its share of trash and needs periodic cleanup. Binghamton University alumni volunteers spent some time there recently so the greenery could be free of clutter. It was one of nearly 30 Global Days of Service projects sponsored by the Alumni Association.
"It is so fulfilling to transform a public space," said Hadassah Mativetsky '07, MS '12, who led this project for the second consecutive year, and is a member of Binghamton's City Council. "While our public works and parks departments do a great job, they don't always have the bandwidth for the type of deep cleaning we did. We climbed down hills and got a lot of the less visible trash. Over the course of two hours, 16 of us cleared away at least nine contractor bags of garbage, a car bumper, and other larger miscellaneous pieces of trash."
Held in April, which is National Volunteer Month, Global Days of Service brought alumni, students, faculty, and staff together to make a difference in their communities. Wearing branded T-shirts in the University's distinct green, the nearly 400 volunteers were a visible reminder that Binghamton's network is present and giving back. The collective power of service was seen from Binghamton to New York City to Arizona.
"[This] was a great way to give back to the community that gave me so much," said Harris Weiss '16. "I feel fortunate to be surrounded by so many alumni who want to do good and find their own unique way to do it. It's a day I look forward to every year, and I'm fortunate that I was able to participate in the Greenway cleanup."
Coleen Cohen '98 led volunteers at Part of the Solution in the Bronx, an organization that provides human services in one of the borough's most impoverished neighborhoods. Alumni volunteers worked in the kitchen preparing and packaging meals, and served food and beverages.
"Volunteerism matters not only because it helps meet immediate community needs, but also because it fosters a shared sense of compassion, responsibility, and humility," Cohen said. "Bringing together a group of alumni and friends for a second time to support an organization that means so much to me was especially meaningful because of the connections made and the renewed sense of purpose and pride we all felt. Shirley Chisholm’s words have influenced my personal commitment to giving back. 'Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.'"
Community gardens have sprouted across Greater Binghamton in recent years, giving neighbors a chance to get together, do something they love, and enjoy the benefits of healthy homegrown foods. The garden at Otsiningo Park was one of the area's first and is still going strong, thanks in part to about 25 volunteers from Excellus BCBS who got their hands into the soil at the VINES Community Garden.
"As a nonprofit, local health plan, it’s important to us to show up and give back in the communities where we live and work, and this was a meaningful way to do exactly that," said Lucy Spena '18, site captain. "The work at VINES was hands on and challenging, but it strongly aligns with our focus on access to fresh produce, sustainability, and the social determinants of health. Supporting a community garden that provides long‑term, sustainable access to healthy food reflects our commitment to improving health and wellbeing beyond clinical care. Bringing alumni and staff together for this day of service made the experience even more meaningful, and we had a great time working side by side for a good cause."
See photos from this event series on the Alumni Association's Facebook page.