Give It a Second Life: Ways to Donate at Purchase
Have something you no longer need? Before you toss it in the trash—or let it take up space in your office, closet, or garage—consider giving it a second life at Purchase.
From food and clothing to household goods, school supplies, and furniture, there are several ways members of the Purchase community can donate useful items, reduce waste, and help support our students. Here’s a quick guide to some of the donation and reuse resources available on campus.
Food & Basic Needs
SUNY Purchase Food Pantry
The Food Pantry provides free food and essential household and personal-care items to Purchase students experiencing food insecurity. Staff and faculty can help keep the pantry stocked by donating new, unopened, nonperishable items.
Most-needed items include:
- Canned fruits, vegetables, soups, and meats
- Pasta, pasta sauce, rice, noodles, and cereal
- Peanut and other nut butters
- Protein-rich snacks
- Shelf-stable milk
- Cooking oil
- Coffee
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Soap and body wash
- Laundry detergent
- Towels and bedsheets
- Pots and pans
- Reusable grocery bags
How to donate: Contact the Food Pantry before dropping off a donation to coordinate delivery.
Where: Fort Awesome, next to Starbucks
Contact: Lizz Elvira — elizabeth.elvira@purchase.edu
Food Recovery Network
Have leftover food after a department meeting, reception, event, or campus gathering? Instead of throwing it away, consider food recovery.
The Food Recovery Network works to redirect surplus food to people who can use it, helping reduce food waste while supporting food-insecure members of the community. Check Instagram (@purchase_frn) for live updates on when there is new food in the communal fridge located in the Campus Center North Commuter Lounge.
Good candidates: Unserved, leftover prepared food, baked goods, produce, and other appropriate surplus food from campus events.
How to donate: Contact the Food Recovery Network to determine whether your surplus food can be accepted and to coordinate a drop-off or pickup.
Contact: Ragnhild Utheim – Ragnhild.utheim@purchase.edu
Els van den Bosch – els.vandenbosch@purchase.edu
Clothing & Everyday Items
SwapShop / FreeStore
Before sending usable items to the trash or recycling, see if someone else in the Purchase community could use them.
Purchase’s sustainability programs provide opportunities for students and members of the campus community to exchange and reuse items rather than sending them to the landfill.
Items may include:
- Clothing
- Books
- School supplies
- Office supplies
- Art supplies
- Housewares
- Small household items
- Other clean, usable goods
How to donate: Check with the Sustainability Office for current drop-off locations, collection periods, and accepted items.
Contact:
Crisbelly Lopez – crisbelly.lopez@purchase.edu
TheSwap / FreeNew
Moving, cleaning out an office, or simply have something useful that you no longer need? TheSwap provides another opportunity to keep usable items in circulation on campus.
Especially useful for: Furniture, electronics, dorm-room items, household goods, and other reusable items.
This can be particularly helpful during the end-of-semester move-out period, when students often have perfectly usable items they cannot take home.
How to donate: Donation locations and collection periods vary, so check with Sustainability before bringing larger items to campus.
Contact: Crisbelly Lopez – crisbelly.lopez@purchase.edu
Professional Clothing
Career Closet
Cleaning out your closet? Professional clothing that no longer fits your wardrobe may be a great resource for a Purchase student preparing for an interview, internship, job fair, or first professional position.
Consider donating:
- Suits and blazers
- Dress pants and skirts
- Professional dresses
- Button-down shirts and blouses
- Sweaters and other professional separates
- Professional shoes and accessories
How to donate: Contact Career Development before dropping off clothing to confirm current needs and donation procedures.
Contact: Career.development@purchase.edu
Books & Other Materials
SUNY Purchase Library
The Library does accept donations that meet its collection needs, but please check with the Library before bringing books or other materials to campus. The Library has specific guidelines for donations and may not be able to accept all materials.
How to donate: Contact the Library with information about the proposed donation before bringing anything to campus.
Contact: lib.director@purchase.edu
Before You Donate…
A few simple tips can make your donation more useful:
✔ Ask first. Each program has different needs and acceptance guidelines, so check before dropping off items.
✔ Donate items in good condition. If something is broken, stained, damaged, or otherwise unusable, it may be better suited for the appropriate recycling or disposal stream.
✔ Think seasonally. The needs of campus programs can change throughout the year. Food Pantry needs, move-out donations, winter clothing, and professional attire may be especially important at different times.
✔ Don’t forget your department. Before throwing something away, ask around! An unused office supply, piece of furniture, or piece of equipment might be exactly what another department or colleague needs.
One Community, Less Waste
Whether you’re cleaning out your office, organizing your closet, preparing for a move, or simply looking for a way to give back, there are plenty of opportunities to keep useful items within the Purchase community.
Before you throw it away, see if someone else at Purchase could use it!