Siena's Inaugural Donation Derby

Don't dump - donate!

Instead of throwing unwanted clothing, household items and furniture in a dumpster before leaving campus, students are urged to donate them so that a local charity can help others.

Thursday, May 14 is Siena's first-ever Donation Derby, and if you drop off some items between 12 noon and 2 PM at the Cushing Village Townhouses, you will be entered to win 4 VIP Commencement tickets for your family!

Here's what will be collected:

• Household good (small appliances, lamps, storage containers, etc.)
• Office, school and craft supplies

• Furniture<_o3a_p>

• Towels<_o3a_p>

• Blankets<_o3a_p>

• Flat sheets<_o3a_p>

• Clothing<_o3a_p>

Here's who benefits:

• Mohawk Hudson Humane Society
• Goodwill
• Homeless and Travelers Aid Society

Items must be clean and in good shape. (You can chuck the broken Keurig machine.)

"Every year, the dumpsters are packed to overflowing during the frantic graduation move-out," said Derby co-organizer Bella DeGrasse '26. "This initiative allows Saints to give their belongings a second life. Reducing this unnecessary waste is rooted in the Franciscan values of saying 'no' to a culture of waste and 'yes' to connecting our campus to the Earth's community."

DeGrasse said it's understandable that embracing sustainability can seem daunting at times, but she believes that knowing these donations go directly to local organizations will make the effort feel personal and transform the move-out process into something bigger than just packing up.

As an added incentive, the cookie truck will be on site to hand out coffee and sweet treats. A team of volunteers will sort your donations, so all you need to do is show up with your stuff.

"Every useable item we can keep out of those dumpsters is meaningful and supports the University's commitment to sustainability," said Ali Larsen, Siena librarian and event co-organizer. "Caring for our environment while supporting our community partners who are supporting those in need--it doesn't get much better, much more Siena, than that!"