Volunteer Opportunity Details:

Materials for the Arts (MFTA), NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, would like to invite your co-op to participate in a collection event that will focus on decreasing the amount of items going to landfills from individual New Yorkers and to further the practice of reuse in New York City.

Individual donors normally need to have a large amount of items before MFTA can send a truck to pick up their donation; otherwise donations need to be dropped off at our warehouse in Long Island City. With this project MFTA will come directly to the co-op to receive multiple donations at the same time.

Collection bins will be placed at buildings for a set amount of days which will give tenants the opportunity to drop off donations at their convenience. On the set date MFTA will return with a truck and take it all away. At the end of the event a tax deduction letter will be issued to each participating co-op resident for the total value of their donated items. The most crucial detail of the collection is that donations need to be immediately reusable, items cannot be broken and electronics or small appliances need to be in good working order.

Some items are in constant demand. Among them are:
• Chairs, especially office chairs
• Computers (no more than 4 years old)
• Computer related items like scanners, printers, and fax machines
• Household items like irons, dishes, silverware, vases, and lamps
• Fabric
• Frames
• Office supplies
• Projectors and screens
• Video equipment
• Wallpaper and home decorating supplies
• Miscellaneous - ladders, telephones, answering machines, etc.

There are certain items we do not take (oil base paint, food, clothing, and beds or bedding.)

The building’s donations will be added to the inventory of items at the MFTA warehouse where not-for-profit recipient groups can shop for free. Co-op buildings will be reducing waste, obtaining tax deductions, and will also be immediately reinvesting in arts groups, public schools and non-profit groups with arts programming throughout New York City.

What’s Needed:
-Space to secure a minimum of two 24”(W)x 40”(L)x 38”(D) MFTA bins

-One main contact person and individuals to distribute printed
materials to the co-op residents

-Elevator access to area where bins are placed or ability to store bins at ground level

Time Frame:
-One month before: the collection project is presented to residents

-One week before: residents will receive printed reminder

-Start of event: bins will be placed in building for up to 5 days

-End of event: MFTA truck returns to remove bins and all donations

Donating:
-Items will be placed in the bins

-Donor will record description of items, values, and donor name on donation card

-At the end of the event a value will be calculated for all goods donated and a tax letter will be issued to the individual residents of the co-op building for their portion

Printed Materials Provided:
-Introduction flier, includes description of high demand items and those not accepted at Materials for the Arts

-Reminder flier, distributed one week before event

-Posters about event for elevators or other public areas, i.e. announcement boards

This opportunity is sponsored by: Friends Of Materials For The Arts This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers Group/Corporate Groups Welcome Senior Citizens Welcome Kids Welcome Teens Welcome We need volunteers who are free at these times Occasional One-Time Contact Person: Johnese Wilson, Volunteer Coordinator, (718) 729-2047, (email) View all organization contacts Address: 33-00 Northern Blvd., 3rd Floor Long Island City, NY 11101 (See a map) Directions: Please refer to the website for the best directions. Click on 'the warehouse' to receive directions for each borough.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: N, W, R, V,   Walk distance (in minutes): 1 minute Web Site: http://www.mfta.org Miscellaneous Information Borough Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island Volunteer Shifts Volunteers are needed to be the main contact point between their building and MFTA. When and where you choose to do the clean-out is totally flexible. MFTA staff can help with approaching your co-op board.