YPIE Partners with Grad Bag to Provide Dorm Room Essentials to Yonkers Students

On July 27th, the YPIE College Zone was filled with comforters, sheets, mattress toppers, pillows, rugs, laundry hampers, lamps, shower caddies, and many other items that incoming college freshmen will need for their dorm rooms.

Since 2017, Yonkers Partners in Education (YPIE) has partnered with Grad Bag to ensure college-bound Yonkers students have all they need as they embark on their college journeys.

“As a first-time college student, I had no idea what I would need for college,” said Hector, an incoming college student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). “For me to come to YPIE and have everything laid out for me, it’s really helpful. It means everything to me.”

Grad Bag, an organization that collects and refreshes dorm room essentials, provided items for more than 100 YPIE students. These items are donated by graduating students from six area colleges and recycled by volunteers and student interns, providing a sustainable approach to equipping students with much-needed dorm room supplies.

“The success of Grad Bag relies on students giving back to students,” stated Liz Gruber, Co-Founder, Grad Bag, Inc. “We have students who have received items through Grad Bag who are now coming back to donate items for incoming college students as well as many who work for Grad Bag over the summer.”

YPIE partners with students to ensure they are prepared for college success. Thanks to Grad Bag, these incoming college students, many the first in their families to attend college, feel even more excited and confident as they start their college experience.

“As a first-gen student, moving away from home for college can definitely be a bit overwhelming at times, especially when it comes to buying all the things that I need for my dorm,” shared Naomi, an incoming college student at the University of Virginia. “Being able to come into YPIE and having a wide selection of necessities that I could choose from was definitely relieving. I’m thankful to YPIE and Grad Bag for giving me this opportunity and allowing me to have an easier transition into college.”

See photos.

To learn more and get involved, visit gradbag.org and ypie.org