WAKEFIELD — One man’s trash, as the saying goes, can turn out to be another’s treasure.
That’s why the town was lauded this week by those behind The Institution Recycling Network’s Surplus Property Program for all the equipment from the old Galvin Middle School donated for relief efforts in Managua, Nicaragua and in Lusaka, Zambia.
On July 1, 2014 the old Galvin was locked up and whatever was left inside was declared surplus. Before then, school officials worked to get anything of value out of the Galvin and put into other schools in town.
The Permanent Building Committee then worked with new Galvin project manager Joslin Lesser — which looked out for the town’s interests as the old school came down and the new gleaming structure rose from the ground — to find a new home for the surplus materials.
In total, 2,164 pieces of school furnishings was collected, weighing a total of 95,863 pounds. Nicaragua got 1,930 pieces and Zambia 234. The items included AV equipment, and metal carts; wood book cases; study carrels; caster, plastic and fabric chairs; metal dining chairs; metal credenzas; double pedestal desks; wooden teacher’s desks; students’ desks; mail slots; shelving; metal stools; computer tables; classroom tables; lab tables; a white board; podiums; metal coat racks, and file cabinets.
Through the Institution Recycling Network’s partners all items were shipped for relief efforts Managua and Lusaka.
