Clean Sweep sets record, raising more than $21,000 for local nonprofits

By . Published on July 2, 2009

Share on LinkedIn

The ninth Clean Sweep sale takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the college's Underhill Arena, 145 Russell St. The sale is open to the public. To learn more, please contact Rosenbach at 207-786-8367 or jrosenba@bates.edu. When Bates College environmental coordinator Julie Rosenbach places cartons marked "Clean Sweep" in the college's dorms each spring, students know just what to do. In those cartons and at the college's ice arena, they drop off small furnishings, electronics, sports gear and other useable stuff they won't take along when they leave campus this spring. These goodies will be offered for sale at Clean Sweep, Bates' annual "garage sale" that keeps truckloads of useful items out of the waste stream and raises money for nonprofit organizations in the region. (NOTE: The summer 2009 edition of "Bates Invites You," Bates College's events calendar, incorrectly stated that the public is invited to help staff or donate items to Clean Sweep.We regret the error.) Bates is one of a number of colleges and universities nationwide that benefit both the environment and their communities each year by selling possessions donated by students as they head out at the end of the academic year. Bates' event has become a tradition on campus and in the region. Different nonprofits participate every year and the boxes Rosenbach places in dormitories are always filled to overflowing. "People look forward to the sale. They expect it," Rosenbach says. "And they really like being a part of it." This year, at least 10 nonprofit organizations will be taking part by collecting goods from around campus, helping organize the sale or volunteering at the event.

Bates’ ninth annual Clean Sweep, a “garage sale” of usable goods donated by departing students, raised a record $21,400 in proceeds that will be divided among local nonprofit organizations.

A community tradition, the sale on June 20 drew swarms of eager bargain-hunters to the college’s Underhill Arena, on Russell Street.
“More than 100 volunteers from 14 organizations spent over 1,000 hours collecting, cleaning, organizing and pricing items for the sale,” says Julie Rosenbach, event organizer and the college’s environmental coordinator. “Items filled the arena — we had more than 90 tables full of stuff, plus rows of lamps, furniture, appliances and electronics.”

Items donated by Bates students and other members of the college community also included sporting goods, housewares, books, toys, clothes and shoes.

Bates is one of a number of colleges and universities nationwide that benefit both local nonprofit organizations and the environment by selling useful possessions donated by students as they head out at the end of the academic year.

The sale both keeps unwanted possessions out of the waste stream and raises money for the organizations. Nonprofits supply volunteers to help staff the event, and in return receive a share of the proceeds proportionate to the amount of time volunteered.

The beneficiaries of the event were: the Caleb Garden Club; Common Ties Mental Health Services; First Universalist Church, Auburn; the Justice, Ecology and Democracy Collective, Greene; Life Center; Literacy Volunteers-Androscoggin; Lots to Gardens; Maine Fair Trade Campaign; Maine People’s Alliance; New Beginnings, Inc.; the St. Andre Home; the Share Center, Auburn; Somali Bantu Community Association; and TriCounty Mental Health Services.

Last year’s sale raised $11,897, divided by 14 local nonprofit organizations. The total for 2007 was around $18,000.

Share on LinkedIn
Categories Collaboration Environment and Sustainability Faculty and staff Lewiston-Auburn Partners and public Service
Tags