Move Out Helps Out
Donate new or gently used items to our community partners
Beginning Friday, Apr. 20 through Closing.
Collection bins in residence halls
DONATIONS BENEFIT:
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Housing Facilities is pleased to offer our Move-out Donation Drive program again this year, beginning Thursday, Apr. 20 and continuing through Closing! Each spring OHARE partners with local organizations giving students an opportunity to donate reusable, unwanted items. The benefits for Vanderbilt include reducing waste and abandoned items. Students will be glad to know diverse individuals across Middle Tennessee benefit from their donations!
One such organization is Franklin based Our Thrift Store. “The tagline at Our Thrift Store is ‘stuff equals jobs,’ a short way of saying that the income we receive from the sale of donated products directly correlates with our ability to train and hire special needs individuals in our community,” comments Dave Krikac, Founder and President of The Gear Foundation which operates the business. “There is no way to measure the impact that Vanderbilt’s incredible generosity through year-end collections has had on the growth of the store and, in turn, the lives of our employees, and we are so grateful to all who make the collections possible.”
Ann Nielson, Director for Housing Facilities Management, describes the commitment to collect during move-out as a huge undertaking. Organizations agree to daily, sometimes twice a day, pickup. Volunteers and trucks are essential to manage the operation.
Collecting groups have differing missions and vary in how donations are used. “Participating in the year-end collections has been an awesome benefit to Operation Stand Down Nashville’s Transitional Housing Program and our Thrift Store,” states Mary D. Ross, US Army, Retired and Deputy Executive Director of Operation Stand Down Nashville, Inc. “The savings on linen alone is worth it. What is not used in the homes is sold through our Thrift Store and that profit goes directly to the support of the organization’s mission.”
Vanderbilt also partners with AMVETS National Service Foundation who locally operates Music City Thrift stores as a source of revenue for veterans programs. Melanie Butler states, “AMVETS National Service Foundation provides support to veterans through service programs as well as providing community and youth-oriented programs designed to promote unity and patriotism. It counsels and represents veterans and their dependents before the Veterans Administration without charge.”
Currently five local non-profit organizations collect donations from 23 residential donation points and one trailer. On average first year halls generate approximately nine pick-up truck loads during the collection period, while upper class halls produce 15-20 loads. A collecting organization needs sufficient space to sort and store donated items.
American Textile Recycling is a national textile recycling company, partnering with local charities and communities. You probably recognize their burnt orange collection containers placed in parking lots throughout town. This time of year they receive donations from The Commons houses. ATRS of Tennessee is proud to sponsor Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Students are asked to:
- Clean belongings before donating them.
- Defrost refrigerators before donating them.
- Take broken items to designated recycling locations across campus.
- Place garbage in dumpsters.
Once items are placed in wire collection bins they become the property of the organization collecting. Bin “shopping” is prohibited. By doing these things, students are a tremendous help to the agencies and those in need.
Student donations reach far beyond the United States. Bruce Krapf is Operations Manager for Thriftsmart which sells donated goods in its local thrift operation, giving all profits to four local charities. “Items provided by the students at year end collections ultimately help provide healthcare visits at Mercy Community Healthcare, scholarships at New Hope Academy, leadership and development in African villages, plus social and economic development through Belize Project. Thank you, students!”
Questions? Contact Housing Facilities Office at 615-322-2965.