UM Campus Thrift Turns Move-out Trash into Treasure – As University of Montana students prepare to vacate their residence halls, they’ll find a convenient solution for discarding unwanted items that extends beyond traditional dumpsters.

Now entering its ninth year, the Campus Thrift program is set to provide multiple collection sites across campus from Thursday to Saturday, May 9-11. These designated spots will allow students to drop off items they no longer need. The collected goods will be sorted, staged and made available for purchase at deeply discounted prices from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, at UM’s Schreiber Gymnasium.

Any unsold items will be donated to local thrift stores. Proceeds from the sale will directly support campus sustainability initiatives spearheaded by the departments behind the program.

“The annual Campus Thrift is a fantastic way to keep items out of the landfill that are still perfectly usable,” said Soren Cunning, a UM Environmental Studies graduate student at UM. “This event also helps break the cycle of unnecessary consumption, particularly during the transition periods when students are moving in or out of their college homes. By donating functional items, students can contribute to the sustainability cause while also finding affordable essentials for their next living space.”

Collection sites positioned outside University residence halls will accept a wide array of items, including clothing, housewares, small appliances and nonperishable food items. However, mattresses, textbooks, large furniture and hazardous materials will not be accepted.

Campus Thrift is made possible through a collaborative effort between UM Sustainability, UM Recycling and UM Housing. The program currently needs volunteers to assist with staffing collection sites, sorting items and facilitating the sale. Both students and community members are encouraged to get involved and make a tangible impact on waste reduction during move-out week. In addition to contributing to the campus community, all volunteers will enjoy early access to donated items.

For more information and to sign up for volunteering opportunities, interested parties can visit the Campus Thrift webpage or Facebook. Volunteers can register via our online form at https://forms.gle/7atDVBFr1uDKEPGw7.

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Contact: Derek Kanwischer, program coordinator, UM Office of Sustainability, 406-243-5796, [email protected].