Shopping for free furniture at New London middle school

New London ― There was no room for basketball or laps around the gymnasium of Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School in New London on Tuesday.

Instead, visitors walked through stacks of student desks, chairs and tables as they tried to figure out how they could get them home.

Hundreds of pieces of school furniture left over from renovations were available to the public for free.

This included approximately 35 teacher desks, 800 student desks, 500 student chairs and 60 tables.

Joshua Montague, the city’s accounting/purchasing agent, said the morning had been busy and there was a line of people waiting for the doors to be open at 10:30 a.m.

“There’s been a lot of individuals coming through here but also a lot of non-profits and city agencies” he said as two members of the New London Fire Department pushed out rolling desk chairs from the gymnasium.

Willie Carter, a custodian at the school, stood on a table to help Denise and Joe Nadler, of Niantic, pick a desk to take home for their grandchilidren.

“They love to play school,” said Denise, “so when we saw the event we thought we’d come grab something for them to use when they visit.” She decided to take a few chairs as well, as her husband carried the desk out to the car.

Montague said he reached out to a few auction houses but there wasn’t much interest in the items. “There’s not a ton of resale value in school furniture these days.”

He wanted to make sure the furniture didn’t end up in a landfill and said he was inspired by the success of a similar giveaway at New London High School a few years ago.

The majority of the items were tagged or taken away Tuesday, but the giveaway continues Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Anyone interested can meet at the parking lot at the school’s gym entrance at the intersection of Williams and Lincoln streets.

Once claimed, the items must be removed no later than between 9 and 10 a.m. on Thursday. A liability waiver form will be required to claim and remove the items. Anything left over will be thrown away.