University organization at UW-Madison reinvents and reallocates surplus dorm and apartment furnishings to underprivileged students
Badger Reclaim, a collaborative program between UW-Madison and Mad City Moving, has made a significant impact in reducing waste and promoting sustainability. Launched by UW-Madison students Amelia Wozniak and Kaleb Roessler during their sophomore year, the program exceeded expectations during its debut this past spring, collecting a total of 453 items during move-out week.
The program works by allowing students to donate unwanted furniture and belongings when moving out. These items are then picked up, stored, or redistributed to other students or community members who can use them. Mad City Moving assists in logistics, ensuring the collected furniture and belongings are handled efficiently.
Badger Reclaim was founded in response to the amount of college dorm and apartment items that get thrown away during student move-out. The organization aims to give these items a second life and provide furniture for students who cannot afford it. The Office of Student Financial Aid at UW-Madison works with Badger Reclaim to ensure that the students receiving the items are in need of them.
The program has been successful in collecting a significant amount of items, with a substantial amount coming from dorms like Witte and Celery. Approximately 3 or 4 sprinter loads were collected from Sellery and Witte alone.
Initially, Wozniak, one of the founders, expected only 50 items to be donated. However, the response from the Badger community was better than anticipated. The collected items, including lamps, ottomans, and mirrors, will be distributed to students in need at the end of August.
Badger Reclaim is already planning for next year and is looking for volunteers. Interested individuals can reach out to the organization for volunteer opportunities. The organization's website can be found at basicneeds.students.wisc.edu/badger-reclaim/, and they also have an Instagram account for updates and information.
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Wozniak and Roessler, both students and employees at Mad City Moving, wanted to combine their day job with giving back to the UW-Madison community. Their efforts have resulted in a sustainable reuse effort tied to UW-Madison’s student moves, providing an easy, organized way for moving students to recycle and donate furniture.
- By donating unwanted furniture and belongings to Badger Reclaim, students can contribute to a sustainable lifestyle and help fellow students in need, as items are distributed to those in need at the end of August.
- In the future, home-and-garden items like lamps, ottomans, and mirrors can be donated to Badger Reclaim for reuse, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainability, as the program expands and collects items throughout the year.
