Indiana Memorial Union recently donated hundreds of pieces of furniture and furnishings to the regional Habitat for Humanity group in Bloomington as part of their renovation program.
The IMU Biddle hotel is undergoing extensive renovations, according to a recent Habitat for Humanity press release. The renovated rooms in the hotel will be upgraded with modern amenities and improved electricity and plumbing.
The rooms will also be decorated with iconic scenes from campus such as Sample Gates and the bronze memorial statues throughout IU’s campus.
Mike Campbell, associate director of the IMU, said the first move in the renovation process was to remove the old furniture and furnishings. Campbell said the furniture was “dated” but still in good condition.
Originally, a bid was sent out to sell the furniture but after no bids were received, Campbell got in touch with ReStore, a part of Habitat for Humanity, about taking the furniture from the IMU.
Furnishings donated by the Biddle Hotel included: bed frames, headboards, lighting, desks, desk chairs and microfridges.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul also assisted with the move by taking the mattresses from the different hotel rooms. They are the only group in Bloomington to accept mattress donations, and the mattresses will be donated at no cost to those in need.
The moving process had to be broken into five phases over the course of December and January. Alison Hess, the marketing director of the regional Habitat office, said it was the largest donation ReStore has received.
“We were more than happy to line up people to help with the effort to move all the furniture,” Hess said in the press release
Campbell said he had been impressed with Habitat for Humanity and their work and he and the IMU were excited to give back to the Bloomington community.
“This has been a win-win for the IMU and Habitat for Humanity,” said Campbell. “The IMU is part of the Bloomington community and we are so happy that we have be able to give something back.”
Dominick Jean
