Members of the Castleton Spartan student newspaper have raised $1,020 to purchase items for families at NewStory Center this holiday season.
NewStory Center is a nonprofit organization that serves survivors of domestic and sexual violence across Rutland County. They provide emergency shelter, a crisis hotline, referrals to area resources, advocacy, education and training, counseling, support groups, and other services for individuals experiencing physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse.
Each year, Professor Dave Blow’s media ethics class holds a fundraiser to benefit the community. With a change in course offerings this fall, Blow brought the idea to students with the newspaper, who collectively decided to spearhead the project.
“I did this project in media ethics and I remember how special and important it was for us, so when Dave presented the idea for the Spartan staff to do so, I knew it was something I wanted to do as a team. I wanted the Spartan staff who are all mostly first-year students or non-Communication majors to see what it was like and how important it is,” said the Spartan’s Managing Editor Aris Sherwood.
For the past seven years, Blow and his students have aimed to raise $1,000 for local organizations, like Vermont Achievement center and a local food pantry, as well as families in Castleton.
“There's a civic engagement component to the Ethics Class … I thought it would be good to do something beyond the classroom that is also civic, and have an impact,” Blow said.
While each of the experiences has been memorable, the first year is one that stands out for Blow.
“The first year, I think it might have been my favorite Christmas of all, ever since I was a little kid and even since having my own kids. We looked locally for a family that needed help, and the mom left the key under the barbecue grill outside on Christmas Day. We went – me and five or six students – we opened the door and filled the tree full of presents. We were there when they came back from a walk, in their house. The kid’s eyes lit up; it couldn't have been better. We had money left over to pay off their electric bill. I mean, we just crushed it,” Blow said.
This year’s funds were used to purchase toys for children and necessities for parents who are sheltered at NewStory Center. Blow, Sherwood, and Lily Doton shopped together for items requested by NewStory Center.
“We were luckily able to get at least one of everything on the list. It was still a really fun experience despite being a little stressful, and that amount of stress is only a fraction of the stress the women we were helping experience during the holiday season,” Doton said.
Doton and Sherwood shared similar sentiments hoping that members of the Spartan are able to appreciate the value of their efforts for the benefit of those in less fortunate circumstances.
“It feels good to help others, even if it’s just a small number of people. I hope the items we bought make a difference for them and for their children,” Doton said. “I think it’s important to do everything you can, no matter how small it may seem. I’m proud of the other members of the Spartan for doing their best to fundraise and I hope that we continue to do this in the future.”
“The community is very, very generous during the holidays, our office fills up to overflowing. We have families that are being adopted by businesses and we have tons of toys coming in. And then the holidays are over, and we have people who need toiletries throughout the year. People need full-size shampoos and deodorants, they need razors and warm dry socks and food, and clothing. Often when someone flees domestic violence, they flee with nothing. They leave everything they had behind and they're completely starting over. And they're having to rebuild their lives from the ground up … so we try to help them with that. Just getting started,” said NewStory Center’s Executive Director Avaloy Lanning.
Lanning is grateful that the Castleton community chose to support NewStory Center and hopes that it helps to strengthen the ties between the University and the greater community.
“It's very exciting when we have Castleton students that are doing internships with us, volunteering with us, raising money, and collecting goods for the people we serve. It helps reinforce the idea that we're all one community. None of us are separate and apart from the other,” she said.
If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic or sexual violence, NewStory Center volunteers can be reached 24/7 via their crisis line at 802-775-3232 or email at gethelpnow@nscnvt.org.