{"id":113284,"date":"2021-05-20T15:43:36","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T21:43:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=113284"},"modified":"2021-05-20T15:55:54","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T21:55:54","slug":"ninth-annual-move-out-donation-program-serves-local-families-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=113284","title":{"rendered":"Donations from tenth annual Move-Out event have surprising second lives"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As students moved out of residence halls this year, the UCCS Office of Sustainability was busy giving gently-used items a second home \u2013 and even a chance to save lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The office offered the tenth annual Move-Out Donation event in partnership with Residence Life and Housing and Facilities Services. The initiative, which runs between finals week and move-out Saturday, encourages students to donate items they can\u2019t take home with them or might normally throw away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, UCCS donated enough useable items to fill a 22-foot dumpster to One Nation Walking Together, a local nonprofit. The organization provides resources and services to more than 40,000 Native American families living below the poverty line in the Pikes Peak Region and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students\u2019 donated items \u2013 especially appliances like microwaves and miniature fridges \u2013 can have surprising second lives through the nonprofit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI often tell a story answering the question of why anyone would be so happy for a mini fridge for their home,\u201d said Kathy Turzi, executive director of the nonprofit. \u201cMany families we serve need to keep insulin treatments for diabetes in the home. Without a fridge to keep it at the right temperature, they may have to go without the medicine that can save their life. To some people, a mini fridge might look like a small appliance to keep a few drinks and snacks cold. But for people we serve, it may save a life.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turzi noted that some families served by One Nation Walking Together might have to make a tough decision: buy groceries, or purchase appliances like home goods, lamps and chairs. Donated items from the UCCS campus will help these families to do both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGreat impact will be made on the lives of the people we serve,\u201d Turzi said. \u201cWe cannot thank UCCS enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Office of Sustainability partnered with staff volunteers to run this year\u2019s event. Volunteers manned both the main campus drop-off location and drop-off locations residence halls, organized items as they were donated and helped to load the truck carrying donations to their new homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See photos from the donation event below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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