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Student-Designed Rain Barrels Up for Auction

HONESDALE — Historical records show that collecting rain with rain barrels dates back hundreds and hundreds of years. Thanks to hundreds of students in Wa...
rain barrel

HONESDALE -- Historical records show that collecting rain with rain barrels dates back hundreds and hundreds of years. Thanks to hundreds of students in Wayne and Pike Counties, and Sullivan County in New York, rain barrels are now on display and up for auction.

It's a simple concept: catch drops of rain with a rain barrel.

But these aren't just any rain barrels. They've been specially decorated by school kids and are now being auctioned off to raise money for the Delaware Highlands Conservancy.

All of the funds raised are going right back to the student groups that painted each barrel.  The Conservancy will collect funds and distribute checks to the schools and organizations for them to use on their choice of environmental projects.

"We've had a great time working with the students on these rain barrels and seeing the community support with so many businesses interested in putting them on display," said Jenna Mauder,  Delaware Highlands Conservancy.

There's one near the checkout at Lake Region IGA in Hawley, another at R3 Hardware in Honesdale, and 20 others on display throughout Wayne and Pike Counties, along with Sullivan County, New York.

"Very neat and it's always good to participate in what the community does and the young kids," said Ray Harrington, R3 Hardware.

At R3 Hardware, they like the idea of the auction and rain barrels themselves.

"It's a good idea with the rain barrels, with the drought we've been having too."

The conservancy wants you to bid on these nicely decorated rain barrels but that doesn't mean you can't buy one for yourself that's not so fancy.  You could be using one of these at home, too.

"So, you attach (them) at the bottom of the downspout, then the top fills with water and then it works, gravity-fed.  Then you attach the hose to the valve," Mauder explained.

A typical house can quickly fill one of these.

This project painting the barrels became a lesson in how they work and how they can conserve water for the students -- and some fun, too.

"They really took these barrels and made them their own, put together some very unique designs," added Mauder.

There is more information here on the rain barrel auction.

Click here for more on conserving water and protecting the Delaware River.

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