Student Move Out Makes Donations, Not Trash

Over 20% of Merrimack College’s total yearly waste is generated as students move out of resident halls for the summer. But this year, as student rooms empty, donation boxes will fill.

The first week of May is dedicated to cleaning house – or in this case, residence halls – at Merrimack. Volunteers from across campus are helping students donate rather than dump. Please note: This is an on campus event and items brought from off campus cannot be collected.

Donations go to three locations:
• Lazarus House – food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and clothing;
• Mission of Deeds – house wares;

Last Year’s Results:
• Over 160 boxes of food, toiletries, cleaners, house wares, and small appliances were donated;
• 100+ garbage bags full of clothes and items that couldn’t be boxed such as rugs, shelves, mirrors, refrigerators, TVs, bulletin boards, trash cans, and much more.

Event volunteers pick-up, sort, and pack student donations, and monitor dumpsters to encourage students to donate rather than dump. The event is co-sponsored by Campus Ministry, and the Campus Sustainability Initiative, a campus group with a mission to enhance existing programs in environmental sustainability. 

Media Contact: If interested in covering the event, best bets are Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8 from 9 a.m.-12 noon or 1-4 p.m. For more information, contact Heather Notaro, Public Relations at (978) 837-5195 or heather.notaro@merrimack.edu.

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