News

“POD people” are taking over Evergreen to help residents give back to their community. 

April 28, 2008

The POD people are coming!  And unlike the movie, this is a good thing!  Residential and Dining Services’ annual sustainable check-out process has begun.  Starting May 21st, giant storage containers will be placed around the Res. Halls to collect unwanted items from students who are moving away for the summer.

The sustainable check-out practice, named “the PODs project” for the brand of containers used, is in its fourth year.  Students are asked to donate useable items that they would normally throw away, which are then distributed to local non-profit organizations.  Last spring this cut end-of-year waste by 50%.  This year another POD is being added due to the overwhelming popularity of this program. 

Also new this year is the addition of free store donations.  In January, Sustainability House opened a free store to benefit the on-campus community.  Any of those items left at the end of June will be packed up and given to the PODs project.  This act of generosity will take the cycle of giving out to the greater Olympia area as well as benefit the store by allowing new students to claim the space.  It is estimated that help from the free store will capture another 500 lbs. of clothing, books, and hygiene supplies.

POD people are student workers hired to sort, clean and deliver all of the donations to 10 local organizations in the last two weeks of June.  2007 saw 35 industrial loads of laundry, 100 lbs. of non-perishable food, 200 lbs. of cleaning and hygienic supplies, and 40+ pieces of furniture come and go in a few short days.  The experience is all at once difficult, but incredibly gratifying.  If you are a student who is interested in joining the POD people this June, pick up an application at the RAD front office, Res. Hall A-310, or contact Melissa Turkington at turmel25@evergreen.edu.