Surplus Dorm Furniture Donated

More than 5,400 pieces of used dorm furniture found new homes with local shelters and nonprofits this summer instead of being sent to the landfill.

Materials Support staff members, led by Jim Hansen, assistant director of materials, and Barry Olson, associate housing director, worked with 18 local shelters and nonprofit groups to divert surplus furniture from six buildings. Only 15 desks were thrown out.

“In the past we would have thrown 95 percent of this furniture load into the landfill,” Hansen said. “Instead, this year, with the proper coordination, we flipped that number on its head and were able to provide people in need with some good furniture.”

Local groups took in the equivalent of 23 tractor-trailer loads of furniture, weighing 538,000 pounds, for use in their facilities.