November 06, 2018
Lightening Others’ Loads leaves volunteers smiling, too
By Lauren Cotta ’19
Providence College’s Lightening Others’ Loads program experienced significant growth and recognition in its fourth year as a student-led outreach.
Founded by Ramona Batista ’16, Lightening Others’ Loads is a collection and distribution initiative whereby students donate unwanted dorm and school items at the end of the academic year for use by first-year students the next fall. The program is sponsored by Campus Ministry, the Office of Residence Life, and the Night in Friartown Committee.
This year, students collected more than 250 items, a record for the young program. Items included refrigerators, microwaves, storage bins, fans, lamps, Keurig units, and school supplies. Since late August, more than 60 students have reached out for goods.
The program is currently run by student coordinators, Yahaira Rodriguez Ramirez ’20 (Lynn, Mass.) and Fiona Anonuevo ’19 (Wakefield, R.I.). The pair learned about Lightening Others’ Loads as first-year student-recipients. Rodriguez commented on how this year, the program’s reputation had become so widespread that another student organization, PC Environmental Club (PC Go Green), offered to assist with the collection of donated goods.
“I am proud to say that the program only started a few years ago by a few students and now we have student leaders asking if they can help out,” said Rodriguez, who majors in accountancy.
Anonuevo described how rewarding Lightening Others’ Loads has been as a volunteer and how impactful it has been for students in need.
“The most emotionally rewarding part of the experience is being able to see people’s reactions when we deliver their items,” said Anonuevo, who is a biology and music performance double major. “There are many people who cannot afford to buy these items or are unable to transport these items due to long distance. Seeing how grateful people are when receiving the items makes all the hard work, especially the physical labor, worthwhile.”
Heidi Fraitzl ’14, campus minister, a program coordinator who works with Lightening Others’ Loads student leaders, credited the leaders and other volunteers for their passion and commitment.
“This is totally student motivated,” said Fraitzl. “They recognize there is so much waste; this has become a very personal thing for them. It’s been a student initiative since day one.” Some of the students stay after the end of the spring semester to help collect and store items and then return before the start of the next academic year to organize and prepare the items for delivery, she added.
Saying that the volunteers have “a motivation to help those who come after them,” Fraitzl noted that the students are so devoted that they leave handwritten notes whenever they drop off items in campus residence halls. The notes vary in content but generally welcome the first-year students to PC and include personal contact information and an offer to help with any questions or issues in their transition to college.
Volunteers Ricardo Guzman ’20 (New York, N.Y.) and Acklynn Byamugisha ’20 (Camp Hill, Pa.) agreed that the program is a great help to incoming students and has other benefits.
“It was great being a part of it because I got to meet a few of the freshmen and see just how happy they were when they received their items,” said Guzman, who majors in finance and is a history minor. “I got involved in Lightening Others’ Loads because I always knew I wanted to help out with the organization, and during my freshman year, Lightening Others’ Loads was able to give me a few items that really did help me get adjusted to the new college experience.”
Byamugisha added: “I joined the organization because I appreciate what it does for the students on this campus. It’s tremendous how giving someone a small donation can make a huge impact on their PC experience.” She is a health policy and management major and has a minor in black studies.
Looking ahead, the coordinators aim to continue the positive and charitable spirit of Lightening Others’ Loads as it grows as an organization.
“Hearing and seeing the recipients’ reactions always reminds and reaffirms why I do this and why I will continue to help with the program,” said Rodriguez. “This experience helped me realize that my actions can positively affect people’s lives and that even the littlest things can bring a smile to those receiving.”
