Builders Beyond Borders (B3), a popular non-profit organization in Fairfield County, hosted one of its many community service projects at Earthplace on Saturday, September 26.
There, many Staples students who are members of the organization, came to help out between 10 to 12 during the morning shift, and then again from 1 to 4 during the afternoon shift.
Members of the organization must complete a minimum of six hours of local community service before Jan. 1, to travel to Ecuador this Spring where they will build medical clinics and community centers, among other structures.
The project this weekend was aimed at helping prepare Earthplace for their annual Fall Festival coming up next weekend.
Among some of the Staples students volunteering, Jack Ehli ’17 was busy spreading mulch and clearing dead branches from the area. But he doesn’t mind the hard work, “I’m a very hands on person,” he said.
For Emily Ritter ’17, this weekend’s project at Earthplace was especially fulfilling.
“Volunteering at Earthplace is a lot of fun because a lot of us came here when we were kids. So those of us who have been here, know it,” Ritter said. “So to come back and be able to help them is really special.”
From now until November, “B3” will be hosting two or three community service projects a weekend, so B3 members will have multiple opportunities to complete their service hours before the Jan. 1 deadline. B3 will be hosting upcoming community events at the Connecticut Audubon Society and Al’s Angels Food Assembly, among others.
But Drew Weisberg ’17 was especially drawn to the event this weekend because of the the memories he has associated with it.
“I love it here,” he said. “It’s nice to come help out since I’ve coming here since I was young.”