Hosts First Drop ‘N Swap Event

April 25, 2009

With spring fever in the air, students are hoping that Vermonters planning spring cleaning will send their unwanted items to the first “Drop ‘N Swap” at Johnson State College.

The event is a community action outreach by students to encourage people to recycle and share unwanted belongings with others less fortunate, particularly during these tough economic times.

Participants are asked to drop their donations at the college, Friday, April 24, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. They are invited to return the following day, Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the “Swap” part of the event.

There is no charge for the items people take home.

The drop-off and collection of items will all take place in the college’s S.H.A.P.E. facility.

Participants donating items are asked to separate clothing from rags, and place them in bags labeled: “women,” “men,” “children,” or “rags.” Shoes, bags and coats are also wanted. No boxes or hangers.

Organized by the college’s Center for Service Learning, the event is free and open to the public. The college is also looking for volunteers to assist in collecting and sorting donations.

“The premise of the event is that on Friday, April 24, people will come up to the college and drop off clothes, bags, shoes, coats, linens, old towels, and so on,” said JSC Coordinator of Community Services, Courtney Close. “It’s all going to be sorted into different categories — men’s women’s and children’s items — and the next day, Saturday, April 25, people can come back and pick up whatever they want and take it home with them.

“The Salvation Army works with us, and they collect all items that were not taken, re-sort them, and sell them in their stores,” Close continued. “What is not wanted is taken away to be recycled and sent to Third World countries.

“This is an event that we have taken from Norwich University. They’ve done it for years and years, and at their best Drop ‘N Swap, they had over 500 people attend. We don’t anticipate that many people at our event, but we’re hoping at least 200 people will show up. We’re also hoping that this will become an annual event at JSC,” Close added.

For more information, contact Courtney Close at: 802-635-1471, or courtney.close@jsc.edu