The students were from Buffalo State’s Volunteer and Service Learning Center, which sponsors a Monthly Service Corps initiative. The next event will be held on Oct. 26 where Buffalo State students will pair up with West Side high school students to volunteer on projects that will better the West Side community.
“It’s nice to show that Buff State is involved in the West Side,” said Aurora Schunk, a service learning center associate. “And it’s part of the reason why we have students participate in this project as well as other projects on the West Side, as well as Riverside and the East Side of Buffalo.”
The Westminster Economic Development Initiative, PUSH Buffalo, and the Buffalo State service learning center sponsored the Community Service day event. The event featured a mile-long cleanup along Grant Street starting at the Asarese-Matters Community Center at 50 Rees St. and ending at the West Side Bazaar near West Ferry Street.
According to volunteer Leslie Sanchez, a senior from Buffalo State, the idea is to clean up the street to help businesses grow, and to promote a friendly and clean environment.
“It helps with people coming into the community,” Sanchez said. “Once you clean up the community, more people are willing to come in and become a part of it. It brings more business to the street as well.” By Caitlin Kupiec and James McDonald
