Jenn Fecko manages the used furniture inventory at Yale, redistributing surplus items throughout campus, promoting resource reuse, and reducing waste.
Give and take
Estimated read time:
0
min
Logistics Project Manager Jenn Fecko.
Cleaning out your office space or the department supply closet? Need to remove old desks, chairs, whiteboards, filing cabinets, or even binders? Don’t toss them; call Jenn Fecko instead. She’ll find new homes for used office furniture and items in good condition.
Fecko, a logistics project manager, oversees the university’s used furniture inventory, which is housed at the Yale West Campus warehouse. The program has been operating since the early 1980s and has repurposed thousands of pounds of office furniture and more within Yale and the broader community. Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, alone, over 13 tons of office furniture found new life on campus or with local nonprofits.
“I’m busy year-round, especially helping new hires get their spaces outfitted,” said Fecko. “The surplus inventory is a word-of-mouth program, and I encourage all units to reach out to me before disposing of anything. If in good condition, I’ll have the pieces picked up at no cost and find a deserving home for them,” said Fecko.
Donate or shop
Typically, the used inventory includes most standard office furniture as well as bookcases, corkboards, overhead bins, conference tables, credenzas, lamps, rugs, armoires, and, occasionally, mini-refrigerators and microwaves. To donate office items, departments can contact Fecko, who will review photos of the items and arrange free pickup if they are in good condition.
If time allows, Fecko will make a trip to inspect the pieces in person but cautions that she doesn’t accept electronics or lab equipment. For electronics and lab equipment disposal, departments must contact the Yale Environmental Affairs Waste Request Line at 203-432-6545.
The used inventory includes most standard office furniture.
“I try to provide guidance or suggestions for items I can’t accept. We want to be sustainable in making disposal or removal choices,” stresses Fecko.
Individuals or units in search of office furniture can schedule an appointment to visit the Yale West Campus warehouse to browse available items. If travel is an issue, Fecko will email or text measurements and photos.
“I call Jen often when we have new teams coming in or that need to move,” said Dorottya Noble, assistant dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “If she doesn’t have what we need, she will call her network, and she often locates items that we can reuse. Jen was able to help me furnish almost the entire lab of a social scientist using repurposed furniture and items from her inventory.”
Repurposing items from moves and renovations
Fecko also coordinates inter-campus moves or temporary relocations, working closely with the Yale Facilities Project Planning team. During those events, Fecko takes stock of what can be repurposed and, with the unit head’s approval, has it transported to the surplus supply bays at West Campus.
Fecko will review photos of the items and arrange free pickup if they are in good condition.
“When a space is being renovated or a building is going offline, the project manager will contact me to facilitate moving its occupants and contents,” Fecko said. “I work closely with the PM to ensure any furniture or office accessories that are not being repurposed for the renovation or new build come into our inventory.”
Working with the local community
The local community is also welcome to access the surplus inventory. “I have developed a network including many area nonprofits, schools, and agencies that often have limited budgets but great needs. Our only requirement is that they must pick up the pieces themselves, because we don’t offer delivery,” said Fecko.
Individuals or units in search of office furniture can schedule an appointment to visit the West Campus warehouse to browse available items. Fecko can also email or text measurements and photos.
Recently, a department at the Yale School of Medicine wanted to find someone who could use dozens of empty, three-ring binders. Because of Fecko’s strong ties to area groups, almost 80 binders will be distributed to local schools through the New Haven Board of Education. In addition, the New Haven Police Department repurposed some of them to hold training materials.
“If items are past their useful lifespan, it is acceptable to dispose of them. Though I still try to reach out to my many Yale and local community contacts to see if they can use anything that I cannot,” Fecko said. “This program is a triple win. Surplus furniture is redistributed for reuse, providing cost savings, promoting sustainability, and supporting the Yale and Greater New Haven communities.”
Donate or shop for used office furniture
If you have used items or furniture, please contact Jenn Fecko at jennifer.fecko@yale.edu or 860-304-3932 to arrange for the pickup and recycling of your items. If you are looking for used furniture, she also manages Yale’s surplus furniture inventory.
Disposal of used electronics
To request pickup of obsolete equipment such as desktop and laptop computers, and computer peripherals, complete a Universal Waste/Used Electronics request via the Environmental Health and Safety website or call the Yale Environmental Affairs Waste Request Line at 203-432-6545.
