Moving out? Consider lightening up first at donation drive

By Julian Layne ’25

As the academic year comes to a close, Central Connecticut State University is once again encouraging resident students to think beyond move-out and consider the impact of what they leave behind.

From May 8 through May 15, the university will host its annual Devils Move-Out: Donation Drive, an initiative designed to reduce campus waste while supporting local organizations. The effort gives students an opportunity to donate gently used items rather than discard them as they prepare to leave campus, reinforcing more sustainable habits during one of the busiest times of the year.

The program, created in 2018 by Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator Kelly Selby, has grown into a key sustainability effort at Central.

“Our goal is to give resident students an opportunity to donate the useful things that they don’t want to bring home,” Selby said. “This accomplishes two things, the first being that it saves items from the landfill, decreasing the amount of waste we produce here on campus. The second is getting these useful items donated to local nonprofits and helping the community.”

Collected items range widely, from clothing, décor, and shelving units to electronics such as televisions and mini refrigerators. Unopened food and school supplies are directed to Maria's Place, while other usable goods are distributed to community partners across the region.

“It’s very gratifying to see representatives of the nonprofits come in and delight in all of the donated items that they will get to those in need,” Selby said.

The scale of donations has been significant in past years, with large volumes of items collected over the course of move-out week. While some items are unsuitable and must be discarded, the majority are repurposed, highlighting the opportunity and the challenge of reducing waste on campus.

Student involvement has also played a critical role in the program’s success. Volunteers assist with collecting and sorting donations, often balancing their participation with final exams and end-of-semester responsibilities.

“It’s a tricky time of year since move-out time is also finals, but many hands make light work and we couldn’t do this without them,” Selby said.

Students from sustainability-focused courses have also contributed to the effort, gaining firsthand experience in organizing and supporting environmental initiatives. In previous years, campus groups such as the Sustainability Club have provided additional support, though the club is currently on hiatus.

Donation boxes will be set up in the lobbies of residence halls, or students can bring donations to drop-off spots on campus, including a secured shed in the middle of the upper quad and another in the parking lot outside of Midcampus Residence Hall.  

Beyond the immediate impact, the event aims to encourage long-term changes in how students think about consumption, waste, and personal responsibility.

“As a takeaway, I hope students realize that throwing something away doesn’t mean it’s gone,” Selby said. “Everything comes from somewhere, and it goes somewhere.”

Selby emphasized that the ultimate goal extends beyond collecting donations and toward shifting everyday decision-making.

“My goal would actually be seeing fewer items collected because they’re being reused,” she said. “We need to move away from being a disposable culture and start being more careful with our resources.”