Students can donate unwanted items

Residential Programs and Services, in conjunction with Volunteers in Sustainability, rolled out the fifth annual “End of the Year Collection” program April 14.\nThe program, which runs until the end of move-out on May 3, simultaneously helps divert excess trash from landfills and gives back to the local community, said RPS Director for Environmental Operations Steve Akers. Students can put non-perishable food items, clothing, furniture and school supplies they wish to donate in bins in any of the 11 residence halls. Items students donate will be funneled through local charity organizations such as Backstreet Missions, the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Rhino’s Music Center, Teacher’s Warehouse and ReStore, said Volunteers in Sustainability coordinator Vanessa Caruso.\n“When students think about making Bloomington their home, this is their chance to return the favor,” Akers said. “Items they don’t want to take back home they can give to the community. It’s a philanthropy effort.”\nAkers started the project five years ago after local residents began complaining about the excessive amount of waste students produced during move-out. The amount of items students donate has increased every year since the start of the program. Last year, 30 truckloads of clothing and furniture were donated, as well as 25 to 30 55-gallon barrels of nonperishable food, Akers said.\n“This End of the Year Collection, we are cutting into (landfill waste) by 40 percent,” Akers estimated.\nThe most commonly donated items are clothing and non-perishable food items. Appliances and furniture will mostly likely get donated as move-out day gets closer, Akers said. If a student wishes to donate a big furniture item, such as a sofa, the student should go to the center desk of his or her residence hall to inquire about a pick-up time for the item. A truck will come by to pick it up free of charge, Akers said.\nSophomore Ashley Carter, who lives in Collins, said she was not aware of the collection program but has a box of clothes and purses that needs to be donated.\n“(The program) saves me a trip to Goodwill,” she said.\nStudents who do not live in the residence halls are also encouraged to donate unwanted items.\n“The less we send as a community to a landfill, the better we are,” Akers said.