Following up on my post from last month, move in days are here and that means University YMCA‘s Dump & Run is happening. The event takes place this weekend Saturday, August 24th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, August 25th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of time, straight from the Y:
The University YMCA on the University of Illinois campus hosts its 22nd Annual Dump & Run Recycling Program Big Sale at the U of I Stock Pavilion on Saturday, August 24 from 8am to 3pm, and Sunday, August 25 from 11am to 3pm. Admission into the Garage Sale on Saturday is $4 but all University of Illinois and Parkland College students who present a valid Student ID card may enter free. Sunday’s admission is free for the $3 bag sale and half price furniture. Starting at 2:30pm on Sunday all remaining items will be free. A portion of the proceeds from the Dump & Run Big Sale go directly to the University YMCA Student Board, and the rest support the programs of the University YMCA.
On August 5, Dump & Run began collecting usable but unwanted goods, all donated by community members at-large. Over the next two weeks volunteers helped sort, price and set up the items in the Stock Pavilion for the Big Sale. Additional items were collected on August 10 and August 17, where staff and volunteers conducted furniture pickups from the homes of community members. Dump & Run’s Big Sale always offers plenty of electronics, furniture, books, clothing, bicycles, as well as a wide variety of kitchen and household goods. This program keeps over 30 tons of unwanted goods out of Champaign-Urbana’s dumpsters and landfills each year.
“Dump & Run is more than a garage sale, it is a sustainability program that keeps literally tons of reusable items out of area landfills and serves not just the student population, but the community as a whole,” said Marc Alexander, University YMCA Director of Development & Membership, and the Coordinator of Dump & Run.
Dump & Run is entirely dependent on volunteers who work alongside Y staff during the program at the Stock Pavilion, with 67 volunteers contributing nearly 500 hours so far this summer. Volunteers are still needed for Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 as well as for clean up on Monday, August 26. Volunteer orientation will take place at the Stock Pavilion at the beginning of the volunteer’s shift. No heavy lifting is required. Sign up to volunteer at https://universityymca.org/dump_and_run/.
The University YMCA thanks the College of ACES, Department of Animal Sciences, Facilities & Services, and the community for making Dump & Run a success each year, now 22 years running. Through this program, we reduce litter and consumer waste, save space in landfills, lower dumping costs as well as provide inexpensive items for students and community members to purchase in August.
