This year, 44 local nonprofits selected items from the salvage program run by the Max A. Shacknai COVE, and more than $55,000 worth of items and $3,640 worth of food was redistributed to these organizations.
Each year since 2005, the COVE completes the herculean task of collecting and sorting hundreds of pounds of student-donated items after move-out in the spring. The clothing, bedding, food, and furniture are then shared with local community partners such as the Hamilton Food Cupboard and the Morrisville Community Church Food Pantry. The effort relies on employee volunteers and a staff of 10 student workers
鈥淚t's the first time since 2019 that we've been able to run a 'normal' Salvage due to COVID,鈥 COVE Director Jeremy Wattles says. 鈥淭he amount of materials we found a second home for and kept out of the waste stream was staggering. I want to thank the volunteers and student workers who made the effort possible.鈥
Collected materials included more than 450 large bags of clothing, hundreds of boxes of food, dozens of refrigerators, microwaves, furniture, and many school supplies, among other items 鈥 all of which will be of service to nonprofits, schoolchildren, and community members across Madison County and Central New York.
The program is run in two waves: one collection, sort, and distribution after the first-years, sophomores, and juniors move out, then a second round after the seniors leave. Volunteers drive UHauls to the collection sites at the residence halls. The items are then delivered to Starr Rink for sorting. It takes more than two weeks to complete the entire operation. Any remaining items are driven to the Rescue Mission Warehouse in Liverpool.
Staff member Lyosha Gorshkov, director of LGBTQ+ Initiatives, volunteered throughout the two-week period. 鈥淚 was humbled to be a part of the salvage team,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he best part for me was sorting things out. You can find everything from laundry detergents to drones! I am grateful to our students who donated. It makes a huge difference.鈥
Employees interested in helping out with the 2023 salvage operation should look for an email from the COVE in early May.