Trash or treasure?

That box of Easy Mac might be better off in someone else's cupboard. And the old couch might look mismatched next to the wallpaper, but for families in need, it could be just what they were looking for.\nAs students prepare for their exodus from Bloomington for the summer, charities around the area prepare to open their doors to any extra items not needed beyond IU. From food to furniture, many organizations accept working items and redistribute them to families in need or sell them for profits that will go back to the community.\nOne of those charities, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, 615 N. Fairview Ave., accepts unopened perishable and nonperishable food. Students can drop the food off to be distributed to 83 different charity agencies around the Monroe County area, including the Boys and Girls Club.\n"It's really good because it's the time of year where we don't have any food drives," Assistant Director of Hoosier Hills Dan Taylor said. "I really do think that there's a lot of students that don't think about (donating extra food) or are overwhelmed by the end of the semester."\nPopular clothing stores for students also are ways to help the community while getting rid of clutter. Goodwill, which has locations around Bloomington, including at 2430 S. Walnut St., serves as a drop-off point for clothing, household goods, books and music that do not require repairs.\n"We say give gently used items that you would give to a friend," said Cindy Graham, vice president of marketing for Goodwill. "When you donate to Goodwill, the revenue helps people in southern Indiana find jobs. We work with people with disabilities (and) people coming out of jail."\nThe Salvation Army, 111 N. Rogers St., doubles as a cheap resource for basic items and a donation spot for students. Manager Doug Skinner said the Salvation Army "accepts everything except big appliances." The money raised goes toward a child care program and a free clothing program for people in need.\nOpportunity House, 907 W. 11th St., welcomes small pieces of furniture and working appliances, but Chairwoman Janet Donham said they are "always in need of toasters, blenders, pots and pans."\n"All of our money goes to Monroe County United Ministries," Donham said. "We have a preschool ... We provide breakfast and lunch, and we acknowledge vouchers."\nFor students looking to donate bigger furniture, St. Vincent DePaul offers a pick-up service for beds, desks, mattresses and other types of furniture students are looking to part with.\n"It will benefit us to get good used furniture," said Furniture Coordinator Rick Morgenstern. "We really do interact directly with those in need. It's really important for us to pick up good stuff and not pick up bad stuff." \nBloomington Sanitation will handle any "bad stuff" that is not accepted by charity and not wanted by students.\n"Students can take those (large items) to Hoosier Disposal on State Road 37," Citizen Services Coordinator Christina Fulton said. "We (also) have year-round large-item (pick-up) ... they can put their furniture out on their normal trash day with two yellow stickers attached, and it will be picked up if they live in a house that receives city sanitation services."\nEven after throwing away some items, students can be satisfied knowing their donated items will be used by people who truly need it.\n"(Students) get to give stuff that they don't need any more, and then we use that merchandise to fund these programs," Graham said. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Catherine Hageman at chageman@indiana.edu.