Lehigh prepares a giant yard sale for the community

As students begin cleaning out their residence halls, they have the opportunity to help members of the local Bethlehem community. Through Lehigh’s Move Out collection drive, students can donate items they no longer need—or have room for in their cars.

“As we head into the twelfth year of the Move Out collection drive, I am constantly amazed and inspired by the generous spirit of our Lehigh community,” says Carolina Hernandez, director of Lehigh’s Community Service Office.

From now through May 14, students can donate reusable goods such as clothing, household and kitchen items, small appliances, food, office supplies, cleaners and detergent. Items will be accepted any time at residence halls and daily at the Ulrich Student Center’s Kenner Theater from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“This is also such a great environmental program,” adds Hernandez. “We are salvaging literally tons of food and clothing from being dumped in the dumpsters, and making them available for the greater community.”

Shoppers, mark your calendars—Saturday, June 5

At the end of the drive, items will sold to the public at discount prices through the Great Southside Sale. This year’s sale will take place on Saturday, June 5, at 10 a.m. at the parking lot across from St. John’s Windish Church at the corner of Fourth and Buchanan Streets.

Proceeds from the sale will benefit the after-school homework clubs that the Community Service Office picked up after the South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center closed last year. Additional items, such as food and cleaning supplies, will help replenish food banks for Southside residents. School supplies will be donated to the homework clubs.

This year’s sale continues a Lehigh tradition that started 12 years ago, when professors John Smith and Kim Carrell-Smith noticed the vast number of usable items being discarded. In its first year, the sale raised $500. Last year, the sale generated $11,000 to benefit the local community.

Volunteers are also needed to make the Move Out collection drive and the Great Southside Sale a success. For more information, or to volunteer for the Move Out collection drive or the Great Southside Sale, contact Hernandez at inmove@lehigh.edu.