The clutter students toss away while moving out of their dorms will hopefully be put to good use for those less fortunate through the ‘Trash to Treasure’ program.

Brittany Prischak, the campus’ Sustainability Officer, is sponsoring the Trash to Treasure program, where students donate unwanted items to the less fortunate in Erie.

The program seeks to collect non-perishable food, housewares, furniture, appliances and gently-used clothing to donate to organizations such as the Erie City Mission, Connecting Hands, Erie Computers, Caring Clost and the Second Harvest Food Bank.

Starting May 5, the laundry rooms of apartment buildings and common areas in residence halls will host the collection boxes for students to donate unwanted items.
Items will be collected Wednesday, May 14, Friday, May 16, Monday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 20.

“Trash to Treasure” was successful last year. Over 1,100 pounds of food were donated to Second Harvest Food Bank, 173 garbage bags of clothing was donated to Caring Closet, $50 worth of printers was given to Erie Computers and $1,500 worth of household items was given to Connecting Hands.

“‘Trash to Treasure’ has become a tradition at Mercyhurst,” said Director of Service Learning Colin Hurley.

“While the program takes place at the end of the academic year, we hope that participating students recognize its significance throughout the year in their lives both within and beyond the gates of the university. The collaborative, mutually benefiting process is very much in tune with the core values of the institution.

“Students simplify their lives and find greater value in what they need by discovering what the extra things they can afford to donate are.”

Hurley believes that, because of “Trash to Treasure,” the landfill receives fewer dumpsters each year and he also encourages students to take part in the movement.

“Don’t miss out on this great tradition,” he said. “Look for boxes and signs in your residential area the week of May 5, and start thinking of great things you can donate instead of packing to take home for summer.”