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Thursday, September 2
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Concordia University Chicago partners with Heartland Alliance to donate mattresses to Burma, Iraq and Nepal refugees
Providing the largest such donation to date to help new refugees as they arrive in the Chicago area, Concordia University Chicago recently recycled 91 residence hall mattresses by giving them to Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights. Heartland Alliance, the Chicago-based non-profit organization serving more than 200,000 people annually, intends to use the mattresses over the next three months furnish area apartments for refugees from Burma, Iraq and Nepal. Concordia-Chicago initiated the partnership with Heartland as a sustainable alternative to throwing away the mattresses that are regularly replaced throughout its residence halls. “It seemed like putting the mattresses in a dumpster is a waste,” said Andrew Pollom, Concordia assistant dean of students for residence life, who organized the effort. “With Concordia going ‘green,’ this project is part of our initiative to use resources wisely.” “This is by far the largest mattress donation we have ever received,” said Darwensi Clark, Heartland Alliance’s manager for refugee resettlement and placement services. On July 17, Clark and other volunteers arrived at Concordia’s Mary-Martha Hall in three vans two vans and a large moving truck to benefit Heartland and two other organizations. With Pollom, they formed an assembly line to load all 91 mattresses into the three vehicles. In addition to recycling its residence hall mattresses, Concordia-Chicago recently became one of Illinois’s few colleges and universities to establish a student “green fee” to support environmental sustainability projects and practice. Starting in August, Concordia-Chicago students will pay a $5 green fee as part of the activity fees that undergraduate students pay each semester. The fee is earmarked for campus sustainability initiatives. A University committee of students, faculty and administrators will decide how to spend the funds on recycling, education and additional environmental projects on campus. For more information on Concordia-Chicago, visit www.CUChicago.edu. To learn more about Heartland Alliance, visit www.HeartlandAlliance.org.
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September 2, 2010 - January 6, 2011
The Oak Park Writers' Group meets the 1st Thursday of each month, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Book Discussion Room of the Oak Park Public … More
September 3 - 5, 2010
29th Annual Taste: 75 one of a kind ethnic cuisine booths all priced $3.00 or less. FREE Admission, Parking, Shuttle Service and 4 Stages … More
September 4, 2010
Help the staff of Trailside Museum restore and beautify the grounds, gardens, and surrounding Forest Preserve. Please call for more … More
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It's an interesting article that reminds me of how many people just throw things away. I recently bought the a new mattress from back to bed in Elmhurst and was surprised to find out that they actually make money selling the old beds to recycling companies. I was about to throw mine on the curb. Upon further research i found i was throwing a lot of household old stuff away that could be sold 2nd-hand or recycled.