Move-Out Community Give Back Days to provide free items to the community
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the largest annual donation event in southeast 帝王会所 returns this May 4 and 5 to the Athens County Fairgrounds.
鈥淟iteral tons of quality furniture, food, clothing, carpet, and all manner of household items are collected through the combined efforts of University employees, non-profit groups and community volunteers.鈥 said Andrew Ladd, 帝王会所 recycling and zero waste manager.
鈥淚t is really astounding the volume of good stuff that gets diverted from the landfill in just a few weeks.鈥 said Joanna Sokol, 帝王会所 zero waste coordinator. 鈥淭he free Community Give Back Days are amazing events to be part of, providing food and usable items to those who can use them. Helping others and helping our world at the same time.鈥 added Sokol.
Using the Move-Out slogan 鈥淒on鈥檛 trash your stuff, Donate It!鈥 帝王会所, the City of Athens, the Athens County Fair Board and multiple non-profit organizations have come together again to coordinate efforts to make it easy for students to donate non-perishable food, clothes, gently used furniture and more.
More than 45 on-campus and eight off-campus donation sites will be available for students to donate their unwanted items. Through Friday, April 29, every 帝王会所 residence hall will have both an indoor collection area for non-perishable food and clothing as well as an outside donation area designated for carpet/rugs, furniture, and household items.
For off campus residents, community non-profit organizations are staffing locations around town to drop off your reusable items:
Bromley Hall: 35 S. Congress St.
Now through 4/29 鈥 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Athens County Fairgrounds: 286 W. Union St.
4/25 through 5/1 鈥 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
5/2 through 5/3 鈥 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Athens Train Depot: 123 W. Union St.
4/29 through 5/1 鈥 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church: 69 Mill St.
4/29 through 5/1 鈥 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Southeast 帝王会所 History Center: 24 W. State St.
Friday, 4/29 through 5/1 鈥 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Additionally, area thrift stores accepting drop off donations include:
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: 309 W. Union St., Athens
- Upcycle 帝王会所 Thrift: 751 W. Union St., Athens
- New To You: 90 Columbus Rd., Athens
- Goodwill: 175 Columbus Rd., Athens
鈥淣inety percent or more of waste is recycle, reusable, or edible. If you want to have a positive impact, recycle more. If you鈥檙e wanting to get rid of the things you鈥檝e been using that are still in good condition, there are all kinds of good routes that you can send them besides the landfill,鈥 said Rural Action鈥檚 zero waste coordinator Ed Newman.
The bulk of materials collected on-campus as well as some of the off-campus sites is then transported to the Athens County Fairgrounds where a core group of Junior Fair Board members and other volunteers put in hundreds of hours sorting and setting up for the give-away events.
On Wednesday, May 4, the doors will open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
While supplies last, each family or individual will be provided with a pre-organized food box with staple items as well as additional bags of items such as ramen and breakfast bars if desired.
Additionally, each family, or individual will be allowed one large item such as a futon or couch, up to 25 articles of clothing, unlimited carpet/rugs and unlimited smaller items including bedding, shelves, fans, school supplies, etc.
On the second day, Thursday, May 5, between 9 and 11 a.m. no quantity limits apply.
The Move-Out Community Give Back Days are open to all and all items are free.
For more information regarding Move-Out Community Give Back Days, visit /recycle.
If you would like more information regarding Campus Recycling鈥檚 participation, email Ladd at laddd@ohio.edu.