MORNINGSIDE CAMPUS CLEANS OUT, DONATES - MORE THAN EVER

Give + Go Green as well as Clean + Go Green attracted record-breaking donations of goods for reuse, as students, faculty and staff sorted through their personal and professional belongings at the end of another academic year.

Give + Go Green turned three this year, with its outreach expanding to several new agencies who became beneficiaries of student donations.

The program's goal is to collect as many student belongings as possible that would otherwise be thrown away. The effort is coordinated by the student Eco-Reps, Columbia Housing & Dining, and the Office of Environmental Stewardship.

According to statistics compiled by Housing & Dining, donations of clothing and miscellaneous items such as furniture and appliances filled five 26-foot Salvation Army trucks. That's in contrast to just over four truckloads last year.

About 500 pounds of non-perishable food - approximately 500 meals - went to City Harvest, and approximately 1200 books were donated to Better World Books.

This year for the first time toiletries were separated out and filled a 16-cubic-foot bin. The contents went to Rock and Wrap It Up, an agency with a brand new working relationship to Give + Go Green. The organization describes itself as "an independent anti-poverty think tank based in New York ... devoted to developing innovative solutions to the pressing issues of hunger and poverty in America."

CEO Syd Mandelbaum says he began working with Columbia at the encouragement of Rock and Wrap It Up Projects Coordinator and legislative liaison John Kluge '06. "We're looking to expand in Upper Manhattan," Mandelbaum says, "and we've found a very willing partner at Columbia University."

Other groups new to Give + Go Green were the Artist Society, a student organization that received donated art supplies, and Wearable Collections, recipients of clothing in any condition.

Continuing the reuse and recycle effort with faculty and staff, Columbia University Facilities held its annual mid-summer Clean + Go Green program, Aug. 12-14.

Bins were available at three campus locations for disposal of items such as unwanted furniture, electronics and books. Facilities then separated the items for proper reuse and recycling.

And a first for Clean + Go Green: a Code Shred truck available for faculty and staff shredding needs.