UA Grantham consolidates operations in Little Rock; minimizes transition costs while supporting local charities
As part of consolidating its operations in Little Rock, Arkansas, University of Arkansas Grantham closed its administrative location in Lenexa, KS, at the end of August 2024. This transition marked the end of an era — but also the start of something beneficial. Closing the office, which had largely been unused since 2020 due to the shift to remote work, presented an opportunity to do something impactful by donating now-obsolete office equipment, outdated fixtures, and supplies.
Instead of discarding the surplus property designated for disposal, UA Grantham made the environmentally-conscious decision to donate everything to local charities and organizations. This move not only saved the institution a significant amount of money in transportation, storage, and disposal costs but also prevented a large amount of waste from ending up in landfills.
By donating these items, the university avoided contributing to the growing problem of e-waste and material waste, all while giving local charities a much-needed boost. Local schools received essential office supplies, and dated computer equipment was donated to bridge the technological divide in underserved communities – allowing charities to focus their limited resources on their missions rather than on office upgrades.
One of the organizations that benefitted is Della Lamb, a not-for-profit serving low-income, vulnerable families in the Kansas City area. “We cannot underestimate the impact of this gift,” said Ryan Hudnall, Della Lamb Executive Director; “UA Grantham’s donation is having a direct impact on our newest neighbors. The furniture that you donated has beautified both the homes of newly arrived refugees, and the Della Lamb facilities; the technology that you gifted will help refugees on their pathway to digital literacy. Thank you.”
“This was a win-win for everyone,” commented Lindsay Bridgeman, Chancellor of University of Arkansas, “we were looking at tens of thousands of dollars in potential office closing costs: everything from renting dumpsters, moving trucks and mover services, and storage. Thanks to initiative and hard work by our community-minded team members, we were able to avoid all those expenses. We’re glad all this ‘stuff’ ended up not in a landfill, but helping meet some of the most basic, urgent needs in the community.”
For the Grantham team, the donation project was a fitting and touching finalé to nearly a decade of community involvement and support through various grants, activities, and collaborations. “Although our team, like the students we serve, is distributed across the country, we deeply care about our local communities” said Chancellor Bridgeman; “we look forward to continuing the Grantham legacy of giving.”