ReUSE Store Expands Outreach
March 12, 2025
UVA donates surplus to more than 200 charities
Facilities Management's ReUSE Store has expanded its outreach efforts to ensure that surplus property from the University finds a new home.
Since the store was opened almost seven years ago, more than nine million pounds of surplus property has been diverted from the landfill and more than 200 charities have received donations from the store.
“The main goal is to divert as much surplus from the landfill as possible,” ReUSE Store Program Manager Glenn Shifflett told UVA Today. “We try and transfer as much surplus as possible back to University departments, which saves them money to buy essential items.”
“We've grown from donating to only two charities, to having over 200 charities on file that have received donations from the UVA ReUSE Store,” Shifflett told the Office for Sustainability.
For Elk Hill, a Central Virginia nonprofit providing education, community support and residential treatment for youth, the ReUSE Store is like having a neighborhood thrift shop. The organization runs six residential homes, three specialized schools and a variety of community services for children and families with behavioral, mental health and special education needs.
“We have furniture from UVA in every single one of our schools and in every single one of our group homes,” said Laura Easter, Elk Hill's chief operating officer who received her doctorate in education from UVA in 2003. “Every dollar we don't have to spend on furniture is a dollar that can go to programming for our kids. And the furniture we get is of such high quality. It's so nice.”
The Elk Hill pairing with the UVA ReUSE Store began in 2020 when Easter was seeking filing cabinets for an office and her son recommended the UVA ReUSE Store.
“I contacted Glenn, and the relationship just blossomed from there. He was the one who said, 'Hey, as a nonprofit, you don't have to pay,' so we filed paperwork,” Easter said. “Glenn has just been wonderful. I think he keeps like a running wish list of things that we need and contacts us when things come in that he thinks we're interested in. It has been wonderful to have access to that kind of resource and to have that kind of collaboration.”
Another organization Shifflett has worked closely with is Christ in Action, a non-profit that provides furniture to disaster relief victims in the U.S. Last summer, the organization loaded up three 53-foot tractor trailer loads of furniture removed from the Copeley Apartments and delivered them to flood victims in Kentucky as well as to hurricane victims in Florida. The total weight for landfill diversion was close to 45,000 pounds.
In addition to expanding outreach efforts, Shifflett has been working with FM's Technology & Innovation team to improve the store's inventory website, which will launch later this spring.
With all the positive improvements, the ReUSE Store is also navigating a challenging time with the loss of one of his dedicated staff members – ReUSE Store Technician Pete Fearnley, who passed away March 5.
“Many people from UVA and the surrounding community will remember him as the welcoming face at the ReUSE Store,” said Assistant Director for Trades Wayne Mays. “Pete's friendly smile, and service will be missed across the University.”
(University Communications Assistant Editor Bryan McKenzie and Office for Sustainability Communications Associate Manager Teri Strother contributed to this story.)
Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu