Share Our Stuff is WashU’s annual move-out collection drive. This university-wide effort is designed to make it easy for all students to donate their unwanted items at move-out, benefiting our community and keeping usable goods out of the landfill.
This year, the Office of Sustainability is piloting a Share Our Stuff winter collection drive. Students graduating, going abroad or simply tidying up can donate usable goods instead of throwing them away. These goods can be reused within our campus community through the Circularity Center and by people and organizations in the St. Louis area.
NOTE: Not all items are suitable for donation. Please review the list of accepted materials.
Residential Life has prepared collection sites for on-campus residents to donate a wide variety of materials. Collection sites will be available from December 5 – 18, 2025. Find bins in the lobbies of Beaumont, Mudd, the Village and 6300 Enright.
Collection sites have bins/spaces for specific items, each designated by a sign. Please sort items accordingly. Do not leave items that are broken, in poor condition or that are not on the list below.
Accepted Materials:
- Small and household items
- Clean clothing, shoes, and linens — tie or bind shoes together
- Unopened, nonperishable food
- Office & art supplies
- Books & textbooks
- Appliances and electronics — secure cords, chargers and all parts to ensure reuse
- Cleaning supplies & equipment — bag any open supplies to prevent leaking and seal lids well
- Unopened toiletries, new reusable or disposable masks; liquid soaps and hand sanitizer can be open — bag to prevent leaking
Additional Items:
- Working and non-working computers and computer accessories can be dropped off at STS between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., M-F. Please indicate if the item is working or broken.
- Bikes can be donated by contacting sustainability@wustl.edu.
Students looking to donate bulky items (e.g., furniture) can drop off donations during collection events at the Circularity Center (700 Rosedale Ave, Dock B). Staff will be at the Circularity Center at these times to receive donations.
Dates:
- Friday, December 12, from 2 – 5 p.m.
- Thursday, December 18, from 1 – 5 p.m. (open to students)
Dumping furniture or donations outside of these times is illegal, and WUPD will be patrolling the area.
Drop off by appointment
If you are unable to drop off donations at these times or at collection sites, you may request a drop-off appointment. Scheduled appointments are available during business hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., M-F. Email Geena Richards (geenar@wustl.edu) and use SOS DROP OFF in the subject line.
Accepted Materials:
- Bulky items (furniture, storage bins, etc.) in good/working condition.
- Small items in good/working condition (see accepted materials above).
- Donation items should be clean and in working order.
Students are encouraged to donate extra meal points to the Feed the Bears fund, which supports WashU students in need of greater food security. This can be done through the Dining Services website or the GrubHub app.
Any WashU student in need of assistance should email diningservices@wustl.edu.
From November 1 through December 20, donate nonperishable, unopened food at donation sites across the WashU campus.
Accepted Items:
- Canned fish & meat
- Canned meals and stews
- Canned fruit
- Canned tomatoes and sauces
- Canned beans and veggies
- Instant brown rice
- Pasta
- Boxed meal kits
- Dried spices
- Deodorant
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Baby formula
The WashU EnviroCorps team is seeking donations of gently used space heaters to support their work providing home weatherization and energy assistance to low-income households in St. Louis. A donated heater provides immediate relief to households dealing with issues like broken furnaces while they await long-term repairs. Donate space heaters at any SOS collection site this December.
Space heaters must be in good, working condition. For safety, they must be certified by a testing laboratory (such as UL) and have safety features like a tip-over switch and an overheating shutoff. Heaters not meeting these guidelines will be recycled as e-waste.
Who Will Benefit
Since Share Our Stuff launched in 2010, we have continued to improve its model to increase the program’s impact. We focus on the “highest and best” use for the materials, first targeting students, then direct service organizations, then organizations that have resale outlets to support their missions. All non-profit agencies are currently serving clients in the St. Louis region. The Circularity Center makes Share Our Stuff materials available for sale to WashU students, employees and basic service contractors at regular sales throughout Fall and Spring semesters. All revenue goes towards supporting the operational expenses of the Circularity Center and Share Our Stuff.
On-Campus Material Recipients
- WashU Professional Clothing Closet
- Students served by the Center for Student Success
- Students, employees, and basic service contractors who shop at the open sales on the S40 and Summer/Fall Sales at the Circularity Center
Off Campus Material Recipients
Numerous nonprofit organizations, including Home Sweet Home, St. Vincent de Paul, ARJ Community Outreach, Wyman Center, All Hands on Deck, Employment Connection, Crime Victim Center, International Institute of St. Louis, Thomas Dunn Learning Center, KidSmart: Tools for Learning, Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis and many more.
Partners
Many campus partners make the Share Our Stuff drive a success each year, including Residential Life, Campus Mail, Quadrangle Housing, Facilities Planning and Management, WFF, Environmental Health and Safety, the Campus Book Store, Office of Government and Community Relations, Neighborhood CARES and Sharing With A Purpose. Dodge Moving & Storage will help facilitate off-campus pickups.