Millersville University Finds New Home for Residence Hall Furniture

Millersville University’s Purchasing and Campus Services Department recently found opportunities to reuse over 1,600 pieces of furniture from the Gaige Residence Hall by donating them to local charities.

“To avoid just disposing of 300 sets of room furnishings, Lauren Weitzel, our assistant director of Purchasing and Campus Services, canvassed multiple charitable organizations in the area to see if there was a need,” said David Errickson, director of Purchasing and Campus Services. “She was very successful and, beginning on May 12, had organized the donation of over 1,600 pieces of furniture spared from the landfill, and benefitting four local non-profits – Water Street Rescue Mission, Refugee Resettlement, Habitat Restore and Nuestra Clinica.  In addition, a number of pieces of furniture were donated to Thaddeus Stevens College and Student Lodging Inc.”

Gaige Residence Hall is slated for demolition during the summer of 2016.  The work was completed during a short interval between the close of the building on May 11, and the start of the demolition sequence on May 24.

Refugee Resettlement, which provides immigration and refugee services to thousands of refugees fleeing oppression all over the world, was among the recipients.  Additionally, MU donated furniture to Nuestra Clinica, part of the Spanish American Civil Association (SACA), which provides rehabilitation support and halfway house accommodations for needy Spanish Americans in Lancaster County as well as Water Street Rescue Mission which provides food and shelter to the homeless in Lancaster County. Lastly, MU donated furniture to the Lancaster Habitat Restore—a donation center that sells new and gently-used furniture to help fund their organization—and Thaddeus Stevens College.

In addition to donating the furniture, Millersville was able to identify a company that recycled the mattresses, thereby diverting them from the landfill.

Source Article on Millersville University’s Exchange: http://blogs.millersville.edu/exchange/2016/05/31/gaige-innards-put-to-good-use/#comment-136860