Honoring HDAE’s Commitment to Sustainability through Project GIVE

HDAE has a long history of environmental stewardship or sustainability.  This includes working to save water during many droughts, converting to low-flow toilets and faucets, and using recycled water for irrigation and now even to flush toilets.  HDAE also works hard to reduce waste going to landfills.  We recycle in all areas, compost food waste, even recycle metal, construction waste, and carpeting.  Another time when the department's recycling & reuse programs kick into high gear is during the annual Move-Out in June.

Since 1990, UCSB has collected material from students in an event called GIVE.  This stands for the Great Isla Vista Extravaganza.  HDAE participates by collecting donations of unwanted and reusable clothing, books, furniture, household items, kitchenware, canned goods, bikes, and miscellaneous items during UCSB’s annual move-out.  Items can be donated at designated GIVE storage containers at the halls and apartment complexes.  

The donations are collected by the Student Affairs Community Liaison team and brought to Embarcadero Hall.  Here items are sorted, priced, and sold at a giant sale over two weekends.  Volunteers from local nonprofits donate their time to work at the sale, and all proceeds go to the organizations that work the event. These include Isla Vista Elementary School Science Camp, Associated Students Food Bank, Isla Vista Recreation & Park District, Isla Vista Initiatives Fund, Isla Vista Teen Student-Athlete Fund, Optimist Club at UCSB and Goleta, Santa Barbara Soccer, St Micheals and the Learn Engage Advocate Partner (LEAP), and St George Youth Center in Isla Vista projects that improve the quality of life in Isla Vista.   

Over 150 volunteers (UCSB students and local community members) receive, organize, and sort all donations in preparation for a huge GIVE sale each year. One hundred percent of the proceeds are donated to Isla Vista nonprofits and projects to improve life in the Isla Vista Community.   It’s a triple win: less waste goes to the landfill, local non-profits receive needed money, and people can purchase usable items at a low cost - win-win-win.  HDAE is proud to be a part of the solution helping campus and the community.

To make this year's GIVE event more prosperous we are seeking volunteers from HDAE to sign up for additional support. Any amount of your time would be greatly appreciated.  Please make sure to receive your supervisor's approval and click here to sign up.  For any questions feel free to reach out to Jared Martinez. Volunteers will be monitoring Donation sites