Students donate items during ‘Lighten Your Load’ kickoff

The event is a partnership between UofL, Goodwill, Keep America Beautiful and the College and University Recycling Coalition and helps raise awareness about reducing waste and making a social impact.

Goodwill collection points and alternative containers for recycling purposes will be available in 10 residence halls through May 10 to collect goods.

During the inaugural year of the partnership last year, UofL students contributed 3,100 pounds of donated items that were sold locally in Goodwill stores or recycled. As students donated items on Friday, they were also allowed to pick out others items that may be able to reuse themselves.

Shannon Staten, UofL director of housing, and Marsha Berry, vice president of Louisville operations for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, thanked students, faculty and staff for supporting their respective organizations’ sustainability efforts.

            “We are thrilled to partner with UofL for the second year in this effort, which diverts thousands of pounds of items from landfills and provides donations to Goodwill that stay in local communities,” Berry said. “These donations not only reduce waste but are vital in Goodwill’s effort to provide critical employment services for people with disabilities or other challenges to finding and keeping a job.”

UofL sophomore and Kurz Hall resident Briana Benford said she planned to donate and shop this year.

“This program is important because it gives back to both UofL and the surrounding community,” Benford said. “My plan is to drop off a lot of things and pick only a few to take back with me.”

UofL is one 20 public and private universities that were selected for the 2015 Give and Go initiative.