Griff Gives Expands Reach, Turning Move-Out Waste Into Community Support

As students pack up their rooms and prepare to leave campus for the summer, Emerson College’s Griff Gives initiative is working to make sure what’s left behind doesn’t go to waste.

Now in its fourth year at full scale, the sustainable move-out program collects thousands of pounds of donated goods—from clothing and books to mini-fridges and unopened food—and redistributes them to community partners and students in need.

“We usually end up with more than 20,000 pounds in the spring and about 5,000 pounds donated in the fall,” said Jen Lamy, associate director of sustainability. “We weigh everything to track the impact of the program.”

Donation bins placed in residence halls serve as collection points, where students can drop off gently used items during move-out. A team of student workers then sorts through the donations, ensuring items are in good condition before distributing them to local organizations such as Goodwill, Future Creators & Innovators, The Jar, The Dimock Center, and More Than Words. This year, Griff Gives has expanded its reach even further.

Through a new collaboration with the student organization Common Collective and its Center for Nonprofit Communications (CNPC), donations are also being directed to St. Francis House and Bridge Over Troubled Waters, aiding individuals experiencing homelessness and instability.

“We’ve wanted to add new partners for a while, and now we have the capacity to do that,” Lamy said.

For Sophia Lam ’26, executive director of the Common Collective, the partnership represents a great example of CNPC’s mission.

“My focus is helping these nonprofits refine their communication strategies,” Lam said. “I’m constantly reminding my peers that their spring cleaning can have a direct social impact. Whether they’re donating clothes or household goods, contributing to Griff Gives and the CNPC drive is a simple way to make a meaningful difference for people in our community.”

Lam added she’s been involved with community volunteer work for more than a decade, but her interest really took off after taking two classes with Communication Studies Executive-in-Residence Mark Brodie, MA ’99: Introduction to Nonprofit Communication Management; and Digital Storytelling.

“Taking [those classes] showed me how powerful the ‘art of the story’ is for organizational success,” said Lam, adding she’s made strong connections with the organizations. “It has been an incredible experience, and I’m grateful to have him as a lifelong mentor.”

Beyond community donations, Griff Gives also supports students directly. Unopened, nonperishable food is redirected to the Student Success Pantry, while professional clothing is set aside for Emerson’s Career Closet, which provides attire for students entering the workforce.

The program also partners with initiatives like Grab Bag to store and redistribute dorm essentials—such as lamps, bed risers, and microwaves—during the summer. These items are returned to students at the start of the fall semester through “success kits,” helping ease the financial burden of move-in.

And organizers say there’s still work to be done in raising awareness about best practices. Improperly discarded items—like trash left in bins or unclean appliances—can slow down the process.

“We’ve strengthened the program every year, and our team has iterated every year,” Lamy said. “Our student team works so hard. The amount of material they process in such a short time is really impressive.”

For Lam, the message to fellow students is simple: don’t throw usable items away.

“If you have items you no longer need, from clothes to microwaves, don’t just toss it,” she said. “Make a difference.”

Griff Gives’ spring donation drive runs through May 10, with collection bins located in residence halls across campus.