Campus Salvage benefits students and local charities

“Most everything on sale for $1” sounds like a gimmick at a local beach-wear store on the strip. However, the fifth annual Campus Salvage, Coastal Carolina University’s annual yard sale, proved to be the hotspot for area bargain-hunters.

Coordinated by the Community and Campus Sustainability Initiative, Campus Salvage collected 23 PODS worth of items donated by students moving out of campus residence halls. Items included electronics, lamps, appliances, storage bins, clothing, bedding, rugs and even food. Fourteen PODS of items were available at the sale, while the rest were donated to area nonprofits.

“Campus Salvage is a chance to give these items a second life without them going into our local landfill,” said Jennifer Sellers, sustainability coordinator. “It’s also an amazing opportunity to give back to the local community.”

Donations included:

* 10 bags of clothing to Fostering Hope.
* One bag of dresses, shoes and hangers to Katie’s Project.
* 10 bags of clothing to Mercy Hospice.
* 373 pounds of food to Lowcountry Food Bank.
* 100 pounds of cleaning supplies to Street Reach.
* Three bags of blankets to the Horry County Animal Shelter.
* 15 bags of blankets and towels to the Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach.
* Five boxes of school supplies and four bags of clothing to Help 4 Kids.
* 50 bags of clothing and bedding as well as four refrigerator-sized boxes of left-over items to Goodwill of Lower South Carolina.

The sale itself raised $2,173, the highest amount in the event’s five-year history. All funds raised will go toward the CCU Student Green Fund, a grant that assists students with various “green” projects during the academic year.

 “I believe that the Campus Salvage event is becoming a tradition that people look forward to every year,” said Sellers. “We are already making plans for next year since we know the event has become more popular.”