Residence Life’s “Donate, Don’t Dispose” project had another successful campaign this spring. From May 4-14, students donated gently-used clothing, other unwanted belongings and food as they moved out of the NDSU residence halls. 

The recent project collected 3,600 pounds of items for the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch and 820 pounds of non-perishable food items for the Emergency Food Pantry.

“We had three trucks located on campus where students could drop off items,” explained Jen Kacere, Residence Life assistant director for leadership development. “We were not only able to give back to the community, but keep thousands of pounds out of the landfill. We appreciate everyone who participated, and look forward to continuing this program in the future.”

Kacere said a special thank you goes out to community and campus partners for their assistance: the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch for taking the items, the Emergency Food Pantry for accepting the food, the Fargo Landfill for letting Residence Life weigh the trucks, Penske Truck Rental for their assistance and NDSU Parking Services for assisting with locations.”

“We are so grateful for this partnership with NDSU, which benefits their students as well as the entire community,” said Tammy Noteboom, vice president for communications for Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.“By donating items to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch thrift stores, NDSU students are helping to better the community in a variety of ways. Ranch thrift stores provide an income source for the psychiatric and educational services provided to at-risk kids, distribute thousands of dollars of clothing to the homeless and people living in poverty; give people a place to donate items they no longer need or want, which keeps consumer waste out of landfills; and provide employment and job skills training for older workers, people in poverty, offenders, people with disabilities, students and injured workers.”

“This is our second year participating in the ‘Donate. Don’t Dispose’ project, and we feel this is a great way for students to give back to the local communities,” said Erin Foltz, Emergency Food Pantry warehouse supervisor. “It provides students a way to recycle their unwanted items and to build the foundation of giving back as they move into the next stages of their lives. Taking a small amount of time to donate unwanted items makes a huge impact to those who receive the food. The food may go to a child who has not eaten in three days, a cancer patient who is on the verge of becoming homeless due to medical bills or a single parent who had an unexpected bill and now can't feed her family. Thanks to all the students and staff involved to make this a successful event.”

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