Project Grad Bag Seeks Used Dorm Room Items

Recently, Scarsdale's Tara Tyberg was moving her daughter out of college and watched kids tossing  their dorm room and apartment furnishings into dumpsters. Lamps, sheets, towels, rugs, fans and hangers in good condition, were just a few of the items she saw in the trash. At the same time, Tyberg and Liz Gruber, another Scarsdale mom, were thinking about what Scarsdale's STEP students would need to go off to college. They thought about all the items that were tossed rather than recycled and came up with the concept of Project Grad Bag.

They realized that there are a lot of dorm room items that college kids have no use for once they've graduated but are in fine workable condition. They decided to collect these things and distribute them to entering college students who don't have the means to buy them on their own. They like the environmental aspect of reusing and recycling while providing necessary “stuff” for students.

They have reached out to our friends..... parents of recent college graduates who have collected things in their basements and to people who have college seniors to alert them to bring their home their unwanted things instead of throwing them away.

The two found a partner in Let’s Get Ready (LGR) who anticipates that 100 students will soon “graduate” from their college preparation program and be off to start their college careers in the fall. LGR is running a day-long orientation program for these students in August at Barnard College. Let’s Get Ready proposed that as part of this orientation day, the students would be offered the selection of items that Tyberg and Gruber collect. They would like to publicize this initiative to the Scarsdale community so that they can amass a volume and a variety of goods to offer the students.

Once they determine the value of the program the two hope to coordinate with colleges. They have done some research at schools in the area and found that some have systems in place to donate dorm items to local communities. But others might not. They are connsidering placing a collection site near senior student's living quarters where they can donate lamps, comforters, extra-long sheets, small rugs, storage containers, blankets, laundry bags, window fans, etc., and Project Grad Bag could arrange to pick up, sort and redistribute.

Here are the items they need:

• XL twin bed sheet sets
• Blankets or comforters or duvet covers
• Desk lamps
• Small rugs
• Surge protector strips/ extension cords
• Window fans
• Bed lifts
• Shower caddy
• Over the door hooks/over the door towel rods
• Laundry bags/ hampers
• Alarm clocks
• Plastic storage boxes/ under bed storage
• Bed study pillows
• Plastic hangers
• Bulletin Boards

If you have any of the above in good condition, please consider donating them to Project Grad Bag. You can drop the items off or request a pick up. Contact Liz Gruber or Tara Tyberg to make arrangements:

Liz Gruber: [email protected]
Tara Tyberg: [email protected]

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