The TCU ReFrog initiative has secured itself as a campus mainstay. Born from a desire
to upcycle the excess stuff left after residence hall move-out, its impact has increased
each year.
Now in its third year, ReFrog volunteers prevented 16,500 items from the landfill,
thanks to 1,750 donations received this round. That’s more than one item for every
person at TCU, including students, faculty, staff and administrators. Items are first
made available for other Horned Frogs to “shop,” and the rest are donated to community
organizations like the Welman Project.
“I think one area we were able to make a bigger impact this year is with shoppers.
Around 1,300 students, faculty and staff found 6,500 items they needed,” said Wendy
Macias, professor of strategic communication and faculty coordinator for ReFrog. “Not
only were these items kept out of the landfill, they helped people in our TCU community.
This is six times the number of items shopped last year.”
The event is already coming full circle. Macias said that when a pink headboard and
fan were donated, the individuals mentioned that they themselves had benefitted from
obtaining the same items from ReFrog the previous year.
Erik Trevino, director of landscaping and grounds, has been part of the effort since
its inception and has watched the program grow.
“One of the highlights for me this year was overhearing a dad say to his daughter
as they carried out a bag of items: ‘Let’s ReFrog this,’” he said. “When we started
ReFrog, we hoped eventually the term would become a part of the campus vocabulary,
and it looks like that time has come!”
More 2025 results by the numbers:
- Over 180 volunteers gave 408 hours of their time.
- ReFrog diverted an estimated 74 dumpsters from the landfill, more than twice last year’s amount.
- $4,000 worth of services were donated between DFW Capsule and Firefighting’s Finest Moving and Storage.
- The Welman Project was able to provide 628 items, worth over $30,000, to local educators.
Watch in April for information on donating to and volunteering for ReFrog 2026.