Scarsdale Inquirer: Grad Bag Thanks Volunteers

To the Editor,

Grad Bag, a Scarsdale-based green initiative, has given away dorm goods to first-generation college-bound students for the past five years.  Each year, we have expanded, collecting more gently used items from college grads and subsequently equipping more soon-to-be college freshmen.  Cleaning, folding and packaging the dorm goods requires a small army of volunteers over the summer months.  There were those who helped us collect from colleges, those who washed pillows and those who came and worked tirelessly during the weeks of cleaning and reconditioning.  Others came to two community folds this summer at Westchester Reform Temple.  On each of those two days, 30 to 40 volunteers folded and packaged more than 200 comforters, 275 sheet sets, 230 blankets, many towels, mattress pads and more.  

In addition, on the morning of our giveaway Aug. 2, many more showed up at 8 a.m. to help us pack all the goods onto several trucks.  Once we arrived at our giveaway location at Barnard College, more volunteers joined us to unload the trucks, unpack the boxes to set up the store, and finally help excited students choose dorm supplies.  

It is heartwarming to see such a show of support for Grad Bag's mission.  We are also very grateful to the community-owned businesses who donated laundry services, trucking and rug cleaning.  Grad Bag is truly an endeavor that shows Scarsdale is a caring community that will go to great lengths to help kids successfully continue their education.

For more info, to volunteer or to donate, go to gradbag.org.

-Liz Gruber and Tara Smith Tyberg (Co-founders of Grad Bag)