Ben Smidt

With only one day of class left, many students will be moving out of houses and dorms for the summer. After pulling everything out from under the bed and the back of the closet, students may find many items that will be heading for the trash.

The “Don’t Dump It, Donate It” program allows students to donate items during move-out that they would otherwise throw in the trash, said sophomore Nate Keiser, director of Student Senate’s Student Services Commission.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 17 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 25, students can drop items off at the university Water Street parking lot. Items that can be donated include used clothes, household items and useable furniture.

The program is sponsored by the City of Eau Claire, Student Senate and other local organizations.

Donated items will go to Goodwill, hospitals and other area organizations, Keiser said.

“Anything a college student has, we can probably use,” said Scott Turner, store team leader for Goodwill, 3605 Gateway Drive.

This is the second year for the event and Turner said it will hopefully become an annual event. Last year students donated a full semi-truck load of items during a one-day drop-off period.

Donations were “pretty nice stuff,” Turner said, adding that it was fairly successful for the first year. He hopes with two days to drop off items, this year will bring even more donations.

“There’s no reason to throw it away when you can give it to people who can make use of it,” Keiser said.

Non-perishable and unopened boxed or canned food will also be accepted, Keiser said. The food will be distributed to local food pantries. Students who donate items will also receive coupons.