VCU news

By Corey Byers

Virginia Commonwealth University, the Richmond Department of Public Works and area civic associations are working together to keep the community, as well as VCU’s Monroe Park Campus, clean and green as students move out this summer.

“Project Clean & Green Move” is being implemented where VCU students primarily live in off-campus apartments, particularly Jackson Ward, Carver, Oregon Hill, Randolph and the Fan. The initiative involves multiple neighborhood cleanups throughout the summer to coincide with lease expirations in the five neighborhoods. Cleanups are from 8 a.m. to noon on June 28, Aug. 2 and Aug. 23.

Recycling organizations will be circulating through these communities on these same dates to gather reusable items left at the curbside and tagged “for recycling.”

A Goodwill truck will be stationed on Morris Street at the intersection with Grove Avenue from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2 to accept furniture, electronics, appliances and small refrigerators, household items and gently used clothing.

Students can donate items prior to moving by calling the following agencies in Richmond:

·        Diversity Thrift at 353-8890                                
·        Caritas at 343-5008                                        
·        Fantastic Thrift at 358-7164                                .
·        Vietnam Veterans Of America at 358-8287
·        Goodwill at 254-7623
·        Salvation Army at 359-5554
·        Habitat for Humanity at 232-7001

To dispose of trash, four dumpsters will be available from July 26 through Sept. 3. Dumpsters within the Fan neighborhood will be located at the:

·        Southwest corner of Ryland and Grace on Ryland.
·        Northwest corner of Morris and Grove on Morris.
·        Northwest corner of Morris and Cary on Morris.
·        At Floyd Avenue and Plum Street beside 1501 Floyd Ave.

VCU's Neighborhood Team is coordinating this initiative. The team is a group of university faculty, students and staff working towards developing  and maintaining positive relationships between VCU and the surrounding communities.

VCU students who have questions about "Project Clean & Green Move" can contact VCU's Neighborhood Outreach Director Tito Luna at taluna@vcu.edu or VCU Police Department External Relations Ofc. Greg Felton at gfelton@vcu.edu.

Additional information is available online at http://www.community.vcu.edu/2014/06/17/may-aug-project-clean-green-move/.