Residence halls move-out donation program benefits campus and community

As Highlanders prepare to move out of residence halls following the spring 2026 semester, Radford University Recycling is encouraging students to donate their unwanted items to charity instead of tossing them into the trash.

From April 27-30, Thrift Well donation boxes will be located at campus parking lots F and DD and at the Bonnie Plaza. All locations will be marked with "Donation Drop-Off" signage, and bins will be metal wire containers provided by ThriftWell, making them easy to identify.

All donations will go to Thrift Well, a local nonprofit thrift store that directly supports The Well at Eagle's Nest Regeneration, a faith-based, in-residence substance abuse recovery program for women in the New River Valley.

Radford Student Government Association members will serve as volunteers alongside Thrift Well staff during the event, helping manage donation sites and support the overall effort.

Accepted items include gently used clothing, shoes, small household items, decor and other reusable goods. Items that are not accepted include trash, food waste, broken or heavily damaged items and any materials that would be considered unsanitary.

"This effort benefits Radford University by reducing move-out waste and supporting the university's sustainability goals," said Radford Recycling Coordinator Neal Thompson. "Students benefit by having a convenient, around-the-clock option to donate usable items instead of discarding them, while also supporting a cause led in part by their peers."

Most importantly, Thompson continued, "the program supports a local recovery effort where donated items stay in the New River Valley and directly contribute to helping women rebuild their lives."