University of South Carolina
EN-10: Community Partnerships

https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/sustainability/sustainability_on_campus/community/index.php The Sustainable Carolina K12 Outreach team makes biweekly visits to AC Moore elementary school where they teach lessons and lead activities to the Green Club that are rooted in environmental education. Past lessons have included gardening basics, the three pillars of sustainability, and the recycling game. Currently the team is working on forming partnerships with other local schools and expanding the program to middle and high schools by establishing a curriculum that aligns with the state of South Carolina's education requirements.

The Food Recovery Network is a campus organization that collects excess food from campus dining halls, restaurants, and catering events and donates it to local charities such as Oliver Gospel Mission and Transitions Homeless Center. Since 2017 they have donated nearly 40,000 lbs of food to these local partners. https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/dining_services/dining_initiatives/community_involvement/index.php

Twice a year, Campus Recycling in collaboration with EcoReps hosts the Give it up for Good sale. Each dorm on campus has a designated area for students who are moving out to leave items they would otherwise throw away, such as unwanted furniture, clothes, non-perishables, board games, etc. All items are collected and sorted, and then sold at the Give it up for Good sale. All proceeds go directly to the local Habitat for Humanity chapter, and any additional items that are unsold are donated to them as well. https://www.sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2018/05/give_it_up_for_good_2018.php#.Xjr0gGhKiUl

Gamecock Pantry is an on campus resource for students who struggle with food insecurity to pick up to 15 items a week free of charge. This program is run through donations from the local community and does an excellent job of diverting excess food on campus. https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/dining_services/dining_initiatives/community_involvement/index.php The partnership between Green Quad, Sustainable Carolina, and Sustainable Midlands began as early as 2011, when our students and staff worked closely with their team in efforts to clean up the Rocky Branch Creek, which runs through USC’s campus onward to the Congaree River. The mission of Sustainable Midlands is to encourage responsible growth, ensure access to local food and establish a healthy environment for all Midlands communities. With the help of federal grants, our partnership also included funding for USC graduate and undergraduate internship opportunities. We routinely continue to partner with regional watershed cleanups and with the new Adopt-A-Stream monitoring, with an emphasis on Rocky Branch.