Penn State Housing has partnered with Goodwill this spring to take student donations from residence halls and apartments as they prepare to move out soon.

In April, students will be able to donate gently used clothing as well as small household and decorative items. Penn State Housing and Goodwill will collect and distribute these donations to various locations across 15 counties, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Centre County United Way right in our backyard.

“This is an important part of our overall sustainability program,” said David Manos, associate director of Housing, in a release. “Things that can be reused or upcycled should be. Our students can do their part to protect the environment by donating items they no longer need, providing gently used and new items to the broader community. Partnering with Goodwill allows that to happen while also protecting the environment and helping those in need.”

The partnership replaces the annual Trash To Treasure Sale at Beaver Stadium, which hasn’t taken place since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2002, the sale, through which thousands shopped for goods donated by students, had raised nearly $1 million to benefit the Centre County United Way.

“We are grateful for this collaboration because it allows us to continue upcycling items that would likely end up in a landfill and significantly reduces the University’s cost of removing and hosting a public event,” John Papazoglou, the associate vice president of Penn State Auxiliary and Business Services, said in a release.

Signs directing students to donation locations will be posted around campus in April. Students may also donate unexpired food, which will be distributed to local food pantries. However, large furniture won’t be accepted, as students are encouraged to donate those items to other organizations.