By Beth Johnson, Administrative Assistant & Open Arms Representative
Every year, Americans produce millions of tons of waste, much of which ends up in landfills and incinerators that create soil pollution and emit hazardous toxins and greenhouse gases into the environment. As the corporate charity of MAA, Open Arms strives to align with MAA’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that contribute to environmentally conscious practices. We do this in various ways. Furnishing a new Open Arms home can cost as much as $9,500 and include up to 170 different
MAA Piedmont Team
items to make it feel like home. From silverware to bedsheets to toothbrush holders…we provide it all for our guests. To offer quality furnishings, while at the same time being cost-effective and eco-friendly, Open Arms partners with CORT Furniture in many cities to purchase gently used (but like new) furniture at 50-80% off retail pricing. This creates an environmental impact by reducing and reusing products. Beyond our furnishings, several Open Arms fundraising efforts have a focus on eco-friendliness. Many MAA communities utilize clothing or shoe recycling drives that turn into donation dollars for Open Arms based on the number of recycled materials collected. Older and out-of-date MAA model apartment appliances or décor pieces are also occasionally sold as fundraisers for the Open Arms Foundation and provide double social impact. As we move into the future of our Open Arms program, we will continue to be mindful of our guests’ needs, and also on the impact we have on our communities and environment.
$1,681 raised from used clothing and sneaker recycling collection drives
$24,376 raised through sales of outdated model and pool decor
$15,585 of gently used furniture or 36.03% of total refurbishment dollars purchased for Open Arms homes
$5,394 raised through sales of outdated appliances
Statistics as of 12/31/21
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