Campus Life

Students asked to donate unwanted items, benefit United Way

2020 Trash to Treasure sale will be held May 30 at Beaver Stadium

Clothing from a past Trash to Treasure sale is ready for purchase. Each year, the annual sale raises money for United Way, while keeping items out of the landfill. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- As Spring Break nears, Penn State students at University Park are encouraged to start thinking before they toss and donate unwanted items instead. From April 27 to May 10, students can impact the local community and support the Centre County United Way by donating unwanted items to the annual Trash to Treasure drive.

Clothing, bedding, electronics, cleaning supplies and other items can be placed in designated locations throughout on-campus residence halls during the collection period.

Students should refer to signage placed throughout individual residence halls for specific donation locations.

The impact of donations is then seen three-fold, as items withheld from a landfill go to raising money for the Centre County United Way while giving unwanted items a new home and use. 

Trash to Treasure donations have prevented over 1,000 tons of waste from entering a landfill while raising over $950,000. From the 2019 sale alone, 48 tons of items helped to raise nearly $64,000 for the Centre County United Way.

The 2020 Trash to Treasure sale will be held on Saturday, May 30 at Beaver Stadium. Early Bird Shoppers can enter at Gate B at 7:30 a.m. for a $5 admission fee. Admission is free at 9 a.m.

Thanks to a donation from Wegman’s, shoppers will get free shopping totes that they can fill for $20. Items that don’t fit in the tote will be $3 or priced accordingly.

Information regarding the Trash to Treasure event can be found through www.t2t.psu.edu.

Last Updated March 3, 2020