Students looking to spruce up their new homes can avoid the long store lines while helping the community.

The Rotary Club of Jackson Williamson Counties Sunset, part of an international not-for-profit, is selling used items that were donated from residence halls and off-campus housing in May as part of a move-out recycling campaign created by SIU’s Sustainability Office in 2015. The campaign — dubbed “Give and Go!” — received nearly 10,000 pounds of reusable items last spring.

Karen Cupp, president of the area chapter of Rotary Club, said all proceeds from the sale will go toward several Carbondale organizations, including the Good Samaritan House, the Women’s Center and the Belize Children’s Program.

Clothes, mini-refrigerators, storage containers, kitchen wares, bedding, books and vinyl records were laid out for potential buyers to peruse throughout today.

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Constantine Beitzel, a Ph.D. student and instructor in the English department, puts a rake in the back of her car at the Rotary Rotation Resale on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, in Carbondale. (Athena Chrysanthou | DailyEgyptian.com)

The sale continues from 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at a warehouse utilized by the organization at 103 W. Kennicott, Carbondale.

Geory Kurtzhals, SIU’s sustainability coordinator, said the Rotary Club is doing a fantastic service to SIU students by hosting this event.

“When people move out of the dorms, they throw their unwanted belongings into a bin and those things usually end up in a landfill,” Kurtzhals said. “This project is helping save money and the economy because, instead of trashing these items, they are going to other people to put to use.”

Alex Harshbarger, a sophomore at John A. Logan College studying engineering, came out as a volunteer to help carry purchased items to patrons’ cars. He said the clubs’ volunteers put in long hours to make sure the job gets done.

“I like this club because it isn’t about just writing a check to some charity,” Harshbarger said. “Everyone is always working hard and trying to stay busy.”

Zach Thanasilangkul, a senior from Rockford studying philosophy and economics, said this upcoming fall starts his first year living off campus.

“I figured I could find some stuff to bring light into my new apartment, like a plant or a cool lamp,” said Thanasilangkul, who is transitioning to an apartment in Carbondale after living on campus for a year. “Buying donated items is always interesting because you’re buying someone else’s story.”

Staff writer Shannon Allen can be reached at 618-536-3326, shallen@dailyegyptian.com or on Twitter @ShannonAllen_DE.

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