For the third year, AWWCA block representatives and other AWWCA members have volunteered to deliver all of McMaster’s Welcome Bags to student houses. Some volunteers include a friendly personal letter, introducing themselves to their student neighbours. Prior to 2009, teams of volunteers made up of students, neighbours, McMaster staff and city staff delivered the bags.
AWWCA Honourary Board Member Betty Bechtel delivers Welcome Bags to McMaster students Chelsey Calder and friend Sept. 14, 2011 - Photo Liuda Stungevicius
Manager of McMaster’s Off-Campus Resource Centre Jennifer Kleven and her staff assembled 505 re-usable bags filled with useful information and fun items, including a Frisbee and several small bottles of hot sauce. Jennifer and her staff delivered the bags to Marlene Castura and Rose Lukosius for Ainslie Wood North, Loreen Jerome for Ainslie Wood East and West, andJanet Woodward for Westdale North and South. After the volunteers were contacted, they picked up their bags and started delivering them Sept. 12.
The bags included information pamphlets on subjects such as fire safety, local bylaws, McMaster’s Student Walk Home Attendant Team (SWHAT), tenant booklets from Community Legal Education Ontario, a Tourism Hamilton magazine, a pen and renter’s insurance brochure from TD Insurance, highlighters from BMO, and guides for properly handling garbage and recycling in the City of Hamilton.
This year we had 32 volunteers. In addition to the 15 who have volunteered all three years and 10 who also volunteered last year, we were pleased to have seven new volunteers. A big thank you to all the volunteers.