The College of Saint Rose is celebrating its centennial year. However, while COVID-19 has changed what that 100th birthday celebration may have looked like, the school is not letting it stop giving back to those in need.

Tuesday, on Founders Day, students were out on the green, taking a break from their in-person or virtual classes to create tote bags. They took leftover shirts from the school and “up-cycled” them into bags for children in need, who may not have a bag or backpack for school.

What You Need To Know

  • The College of Saint Rose is celebrating its 100th birthday, but COVID-19 changed their celebrations

  • Students were able to socially distance while transforming old t-shirts into tote bags

  • The bags will be donated to the "Red Shelf Project," where kids can fill up the tote bag with free books

The students say community service is on of the Pillars of Learning at Saint Rose.

Recycling old t-shirts kept the students busy between classes. While this year is anything but normal, the school is still finding a way to celebrate its 100th year. Sophomore Anita Sanchez Garcia says getting out with classmates helps everything feel a bit more normal.

“It makes me feel at home, the way college is supposed to be,” said Sanchez Garcia.

Jordyn Marchiano is a grad student who said it feels good to give back during the school's big celebration.

“I think it turned out pretty great,” said Marciano.

It’s a simple gesture, one they can do while remaining socially distant. But it’s something that reaches far into the community.

“I think it’s especially important to help out the community during this pandemic because there are so many people who are suffering,” said Sanchez Garcia.

The totes will go to the “Red Shelf Project,” a non-profit through which kids can fill up those bags with free books. Many kids are learning from home this year, and don’t always have access to the same things.

“A lot of kids are not in school right now and they’re online, [so] just getting something hands-on is really good. And I know it helped me a lot when I was learning English, so reading is going to be especially important for them,” said Sanchez Garcia.

It may seem like a small gesture to some, but one that may completely change the future. And there's a chance to possibly inspire a future Golden Knight.

“Kids seeing the branding is a great idea, because it gives them an idea that maybe college should be an idea after high school,” said Marchiano.