Drop and Adopt

 

What is Drop and Adopt?

The Drop and Adopt initiative is a thoughtful program that started in Fall 2024, designed to better welcome new student residents while addressing the significant waste issue during semester transitions. By redistributing preloved items from our community, we not only reduce waste but also demonstrate our community’s care for one another. This program encourages sustainable practices while ensuring every student finds essential items as they settle into their residential halls. 

The initiative invites students and staff to "drop off" preloved belongings—such as bedding, blankets, small appliances, and kitchenware—at convenient, designated collection points across campus, making it easy to part with items that still have plenty of life left.

It then allows others—especially incoming students new to our campus—to "adopt" these gently used items at affordable prices after a careful process of thorough cleaning, sorting, and quality checks to ensure everything is in great condition. Revenue from sales is used to cover the program’s cleaning and logistical expenses, and any leftover unsold items are donated to local charities.

The program would not be possible without the generous support of the Dean of Students’ Office, Campus Management Office, and Office of Global Learning, as well as the incredible efforts of our dedicated Green Team members and volunteers, and the many students and staff who generously donated preloved items. Together, we're able to divert usable items from landfill, support sustainable habits, and strengthen our campus community.