SUNY Oswego’s OzThrift continues to benefit community, campus
From left, Ananta Bhowmick Antik, a member of SUNY Oswego’s student sustainability team, and Maxon Ali, the university’s sustainability coordinator, show off some of the recycled items from the OzThrift effort.
SUNY Oswego’s OzThrift program continues to keep tons of materials out of the waste stream, provide bargain items for members of the campus and community, and benefit local residents in need.
Starting more than a decade ago as the Leave Green initiative, the effort asks students moving out at the end of the academic year to donate usable items, clothing, appliances and more they would rather not take home or discard. Some items are given to local charities helping those in need, while others are available for sale when students move back onto campus.
“It’s very important to us, and a piece of what sustainability looks like, to work together to shift resources so everyone can get what they need,” said Kate Spector, SUNY Oswego’s sustainability director. “This is an example of when it’s good to give and to receive, as what would otherwise contribute tons of materials to the waste stream become valuable to others.”
An example of paying it forward was the Office of Sustainability recently donating 41 boxes and a dozen bags of food, cleaning supplies and toiletries to Catholic Charities of Oswego County, a human services organization supporting children, families and individuals. Officials said the more than 1,000 pounds of items donated on this run represented nearly $2,000 in value that supports local residents in need.
After first starting with a Leave Green sale in late-May, organizers decided to shift the thrift sale to the beginning of school in late August so that incoming students could better benefit from the thoughtfulness of their fellow Lakers. A typical OzThrift will open with mini-refrigerators, flat-screen TVs, rugs, bathroom items, many tables of clothing, books, CDs and more.
“Instead of becoming trash, these items become treasure and gain great use among students and members of the community alike,” Spector said. “In addition to the profound environmental impact, the joy of seeing the newest Lakers thrilled at finding bargains is so fulfilling.”
Proceeds support the Office of Sustainability’s many programs, from tree-planting and maintenance to bike-sharing initiatives to education and others. For more information, visit oswego.edu/sustainability.