Florida State University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

Chuck It for Charity is an annual partnership between Sustainable Campus, University Housing, and Tallahassee community organizations to collect all the “stuff” that is usually left behind during student move-out after the Spring semester. Students, faculty, and staff volunteer during finals week to recover non-perishable food, clothes, books, furniture and more from 17 residence halls. The material is weighed, sorted, and redistributed to local agencies in support of their work and the people they help. The Chuck it for Charity program has diverted 167 tons of items from the landfill, while redistributing resources to the community.
https://sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/get-involved/programs-%26-events/chuck-it-charity

Food Recovery Network’s mission is to eliminate food waste on campus and in the Tallahassee community. Since 2014, when our FSU chapter was formed, the Food Recovery Network has recovered over 130,000 pounds of consumable excess food from various locations around campus. This food goes directly to our partner agencies, both on and off campus, who distribute it to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

The Food Recovery Network provides a use for leftover food products. This program allows for reduced food waste, as collected products will be given to those who need it instead of the landfills. Events big and small can utilize the Food Recovery Network for food recoveries! The Food Recovery Network acts as a food waste "ghostbuster" and is on call if a campus or community partner is anticipating excess perishables at one of their events.
https://sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/students/food-recovery-network-frn

The Sustainability Fellows program provides an opportunity for students of any discipline to participate in furthering sustainability efforts on the FSU campus and in the Tallahassee community. Sustainability Fellows can be selected from any major or field of study. Fellows work in collaboration with campus and community partners to actively engage in research, propose strategies, and identify opportunities for sustainability issues.

Fellows are selected based on their academic background, professional experience, and personal statements. Individually or in small working groups, Fellows address a challenge related to environmental, social, and/or economic sustainability at FSU or in Tallahassee with a campus/community partnering organization.

The duration of the Fellows program is one academic semester. There are opportunities for Fellows whose projects are ongoing to continue with the program for multiple semesters. Fellows are expected to work on their projects over the course of the semester. At the end of the fellowship, Fellows must submit a deliverable demonstrating their learning, for example, a research paper, poster, audio/visual presentation, etc.

https://sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/sustainability-fellows

EngageTLH allows students to get involved in regular or one-time service in the Tallahassee community, with different projects to choose from almost daily. With an emphasis on meaningful dialogue, EngageTLH provides a space where student participants can reflect on their experience after each service trip. After the group completes its service, members will engage in critical reflection on the experience, either on site at the agency or in the van on the way back to campus. The reflection, led by EngageTLH facilitators, is meant to give students the opportunity to have a dialogue on their experience and think about other ways they can incorporate service into their lives. EngageTLH service projects are offered at a variety of non-profit agencies at different days and times each week. Participants can sign up online to go on a service trip with EngageTLH as early as one week in advance and up to the day before the project. Space is limited, and the center provides transportation to and from the service site. https://thecenter.fsu.edu/service/engagetlh

Community Ambassadors link local nonprofit agencies with the people, programs, and resources on FSU's campus. Each ambassador works with one local agency for a full academic year, learning the inner workings of that agency. Ambassadors bring knowledge of their agencies to Florida State, connecting campus and community. An ambassador's knowledge of their agency's specific service needs, combined with the center's resources, create opportunities for positive, sustainable change through the university and the local community. Ambassadors are required to commit 5 hours per week to their community agency and attend biweekly program meetings, and they receive a stipend and notation on their official transcripts. https://thecenter.fsu.edu/service/community-ambassador-program

https://thecenter.fsu.edu/service/community-ambassador-program
https://sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/sustainability-fellows
https://thecenter.fsu.edu/service/engagetlh
https://sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/students/food-recovery-network-frn
https://sustainablecampus.fsu.edu/get-involved/programs-%26-events/chuck-it-charity