Baylor Students Divert Over 25 Tons of “Bear-ly Used” Goods to Waco Nonprofits

Contact: Shelby Cefaratti-Bertin, 254-327-8012
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As Baylor University students prepare to move out of residence halls at the end of the spring semester, a campus-wide, student-led initiative is ensuring that usable items are not thrown away. Now in its second year, Bear-ly Used has diverted more than 25 tons of donated goods from landfills and redistributed them to Waco nonprofit organizations and families in need across Central Texas.

Launched in May 2025, Bear-ly Used brings together students, campus departments and volunteers to collect items such as clothing, small appliances, furniture and household goods that might otherwise be left behind during move-out. The program reflects Baylor’s commitment to sustainability and creation care by reducing waste, supporting community partners and engaging students in meaningful, hands-on service. 

“We knew that a lot of useful items could be utilized by community partners, but we didn’t realize how much students had to give or how much support it would ultimately provide for our neighbors.” - Gary Cocke, M.S.

“The experience of bringing the idea of Bear-ly Used to fruition has been incredible,” said Gary Cocke, M.S., senior director of sustainability at Baylor. “We knew that a lot of useful items could be utilized by community partners, but we didn’t realize how much students had to give or how much support it would ultimately provide for our neighbors.”

Student leadership

Bear-ly Used was initiated by Baylor Business Fellows Joshua Yoon, a junior from Edmond, Oklahoma, and Nolan La, a senior from Farmers Branch, Texas, stemming from their desire to find homes for the goods left behind by thousands of students at the end of the academic year. They developed their idea in collaboration with Baylor departments, including Campus Living & Learning (CL&L), Facilities Management and the Office of Sustainability, and has since been officially adopted as a yearly event by the University.

The student team has now expanded to include Houston senior Ethan Wiley and freshman Allegra Alaniz, from Katy, Texas. 

“I'm excited to see the even bigger impact that the Bearly-Used program will create not only again this year but also the impact it will have on years to come,” Yoon said. “I hope that one day I can come back to Baylor and see that this program still exists and is even bigger and better than what it is now.”

These students exemplify Baylor’s mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service, Cocke said.

“They started with an idea to reduce waste and serve others, and through their hard work and their deeds, they made a real impact on their university and the surrounding community while honing skills that they will carry forward after graduation as they lead for good,” he said.

Second-year growth

Now in its second year, Bear-ly Used has expanded to match the volume of donated items. In its first year, the program placed 13 storage pods around campus to collect donated items. This year, they increased to 20 pods. Community partners have grown significantly as well, from four to more than 15 organizations that will receive donations. 

“This year, we’ve been able to plan more intentionally for the move-out donations,” Cocke said. “Student-leaders have been busy recruiting volunteers throughout Earth Month, getting signage in residence halls and on screens around campus and coordinating with community partners.”

This year’s donation partners include organizations serving a wide range of community needs, including food insecurity, housing assistance, education, clothing and resource support for vulnerable populations. 

• Baylor International Justice Mission, Baylor’s chapter of an international organization fighting modern-day slavery;
• BU WISE Council, supporting women and minorities in STEM;
• Caritas, a Waco-based organization providing food insecurity and poverty support;
• The Clothesline, part of Mission Waco, offering gently-worn women’s clothing and accessories;
• Compassion Waco, a faith-based transitional housing program for families with children;
• The Cove, a Waco-based nonprofit addressing youth homelessness;
• ECS Region 12, which provides educational support, professional development and resources for Region 12 school districts;
• Green City Recyclers, a Houston-based textile recycling group;
• Lovely Village, a nonprofit for survivors of sexual assault;
• Pet Circle, City of Waco’s municipal, open-admission animal shelter;
• The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Living Faith, Waco
• ReStore, Waco Habitat for Humanity’s building materials recycling center;
• Salvation Army, Waco, a non-profit that helps with emergency assistance, clothing, addiction and resources;
• Shepherd's Heart - Things From The Heart Resale Shop, a Waco-based nonprofit that assists families with clothing and household items; and
• The Waco Bridge, nonprofit newsroom dedicated to empowering Wacoans with high-quality local news and information.

“It has been incredible to see how the Baylor and Waco community have responded to Bear-ly Used,” Cocke said. “It requires a great deal of coordination across the University, and the expressed enthusiasm about the donations demonstrates the strong connections that Bear-ly Used has created among campus departments, campus organizations and our community partners.”

As the program continues to grow, student leadership will be passed down and remain a student-led program with full support from the University. 

“Building something from scratch is really hard. There's always something to do, and you never feel like you're doing enough,” Yoon said. “However, through constant support from my team and prayer, we are doing the absolute best that we can, and I hope that it can be even more successful than it was last year.” 

Volunteers needed

From Friday, May 8, through Saturday, May 16, collection locations will be set up across campus near residence halls, each featuring clearly labeled trash and recycling containers, as well as locked pods designated for donations. Each residence hall lobby also will have a designated donation staging area. 

All donation pods will be managed and accessed by trained student volunteers who are part of the Bear-ly Used team. Items collected during move-out will be sorted from Wednesday, May 20, through Friday, May 29, and prepared for pickup by nonprofit donation partners. 

Volunteers are needed for all aspects of the project and encouraged to sign up online.

Move-Out Collection Sign Up 

Sorting and Distribution Sign Up 

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.