Every spring, students move out of the residence halls at the end of the semester, and many leave items behind that they no longer want or need. Penn State Berks residence life has found a way to make good use of these items by donating them to Opportunity House, an emergency shelter located in Reading.
Kyle Kowal, assistant director of residence life, oversees the college’s on-campus housing complex, which can accommodate more than 800 students. He explained, “Residence life has been partnering with Opportunity House to reduce waste from student move-out for the past four years. Each year, students get rid of vast amounts of clothing, bedding, furniture, dorm essentials and more that would otherwise end up in dumpsters and landfills. Through this partnership, students can choose to give second life to items they no longer want in order to help others in need.”
Holly Wolf, director of marketing at Opportunity House, commented on the impact of such donations. “Each year, Opportunity House provides emergency shelter for over 500 individuals when they have nowhere else to go. Through our Reuse and Recycle program, we divert over one million pounds from landfills, while providing clothing, household items and furniture for those who are rebuilding their lives after experiencing homelessness.”
Denise Harner, director of retail operations at Opportunity House, added, “Students at Penn State Berks are focused on making an impact in the world. Today, they can see the positive impact they made in their community by reducing waste and helping our neighbors rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.”
Kowal summarizes the initiative by stating, “I am always amazed at how much we can gather to give back and support our local community, and I am proud of our students for choosing to upcycle so many of these items.”