UMass Dartmouth's New2U program (previously titled Green Move Out) worked diligently throughout the University's Residence Halls to collect donated items during Finals Week and Commencement ceremonies
For the third consecutive year UMass Dartmouth's New2U program (previously titled Green Move Out) worked diligently throughout the University's Residence Halls to collect donated items during Finals Week and Commencement ceremonies collecting unwanted clothing, appliances, household goods, and nonperishable food. The program was a resounding success collecting 4,000 pounds in just clothing and 1,500 pounds in nonperishable foods. Also the group of students filled one and a half 40' x 8' shipping containers with appliances and household goods.
The student-run program is under the guidance of The Office of Campus Sustainability and Residential Initiatives, Campus Facilities, and the Green Fee. The New2U program engaged 45 students to help educate fellow students about the program, collect and sort donations, then finally donate these items. These students also helped in the continuing efforts by the University to enforce the waste bans in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by sorting through recycling bins from every residence hall and academic building from the beginning of finals through the last day of Commencement.
All of the collected items were donated to support three different programs. Clothes collected were donated to the Gifts to Give in Acushnet, MA. The food donated went to the new UMass Dartmouth Food Bank located on campus. The appliances and household goods will be checked, tested, cleaned, and then resold in the New2U yard sale during the fall semester.
In 2013, the program collected 1,200 pounds of clothing and household good and 600 pounds of nonperishable food. In 2014, the program doubled its collection and collected 4,300 pounds in clothing and household goods and 1000 pounds of nonperishable food.
The New2U program (previously titled Green Move Out) used a marketing campaign to educated residents with emails about the program, posters in all 14 residence halls, students in the residence halls educating fellow students, signs at the collection locations and banners that read "Don't Feed the Trash Monster" on all of the garbage dumpsters.
This student run program is under the guidance of The Office of Campus Sustainability and Residential Initiatives, Campus Facilities, and the Green Fee. Next the program will continue to work toward increasing education among students to reduce their waste and to help collect the ever-growing amount of items students are donating to the program.
UMass Dartmouth distinguishes itself as a vibrant public university actively engaged in personalized teaching and innovative research, and acting as an intellectual catalyst for regional economic, social, and cultural development. UMass Dartmouth's mandate to serve its community is realized through countless partnerships, programs, and other outreach efforts to engage the community, and apply its knowledge to help address local issues and empower others to facilitate change for all.