Cristian Orellana

Students move into Buddig hall during move in on Thursday Aug. 15, 2019. A donation box will be made available at the end of the year for students to donate unwanted items during move-out.

At the end of the semester, students can donate items they don’t need after moving out as a way to help local charities and reduce items from ending up in landfills.

From May 7 to 10 in the residential quad, a drive to donate will be held on the main campus and on May 9 and 10 on the Broadway campus.

Towels, linens, cleaning supplies, hangers, bikes, school supplies, clothing, and unopened non-perishables can be donated by students, according to Aimée Thomas, assistant professor of Biological Sciences.

Meg Allison, founder of Greening Nola and Loyola alumna, partnered with the university in hopes of making a difference in reducing waste on streets and in landfills. It was important for her to recollect items that were once used or given away for free and find a new home for them through local organizations.

“I really hated the waste on the streets. I hated seeing all the usable items going into the storm drains, especially in a city that has so much need,” Allison said. “ I really wanted those items to be put back into use.”

Greening Nola strives to help communities within New Orleans. They focus on collecting usable items and they distribute them to their community partners, which includes STEM Library Lab, The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Unity of Greater New Orleans, and Gladewaves. These organizations focus on providing items and resources to communities in need, according to Allison.

This initiative also gives back to the Loyola community, fostering a sense of community responsibility and encourages a culture of giving back among students, according to Jay Davis, the associate director of Residential Life.

“Not only do donated items help those in need in the New Orleans community but also fellow students as some items are given to Iggy’s Cupboard or offered to incoming students during a ‘move in, pay what you want’ sale,” Davis said.

Political science and environmental studies sophomore Katie Buc believes that this event is important because it promotes sustainability at Loyola.

“Being sustainable within our community is essential for building a more resilient, equitable, and flourishing future for all,” Buc said.