RU students give before they go

As Radford University students moved out of residence halls last week, they donated more than five tons of personal items to charity.

For the second consecutive year, RU teamed with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys to provide an opportunity to students to donate their unwanted items instead of tossing those items in the trash.

The Give and Go Move Out donation drive ran from May 2 and ended May 8. Goodwill stationed 24-hour Edgar donation boxes at strategic campus locations as drop-off points for gently used, unwanted items. Staffed donations sites also were available for 8 hours each day of the event.

Among the items donated were 2,204 pounds of housewares, 1,225 pounds of appliances and electronics, 1,191 pounds furniture and 348 pounds of food, said RU Recycling Coordinator Pavan Muddanna.

Items accepted during the Give and Go Move Out donation drive were clothes, shoes, purses, belts, books, games, CDs and DVDs, household items, furniture, carpets, electronics, computers and computer equipment, small appliances and canned and non-perishable food.

All donations go to support Goodwill job training and community employment programs for youth, adults and seniors.

Donating clothing and household items diverts waste from landfills, furthering RU's commitment to sustainability. By giving items to Goodwill, RU students gave back to the community for Goodwill to resell the items affordably to the public in the New River and Roanoke valleys.

Learn more on the Goodwill Industries website or RU Recycling.