KINGSTON, R.I. – May 23, 2007 – So you’re doing some spring cleaning, but you don’t want to throw out some perfectly good items. Why not donate your treasures to the 4th annual Rhody the Ram Yard Sale, which will be held Saturday, June 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Keaney parking lot? Rain date is Sunday, June 10.
Proceeds will benefit the Rhody the Ram Endowment, which now stands at more than $20,000. Interest from the endowment is used to fund scholarships to assist students who perform as Rhody the Ram. In the past, student volunteers have not received financial support for their efforts.
Rhody the Ram represents the spirit of URI at home and on the road. The Ram made its first official appearance in 1929 when Rhode Island State College played Connecticut in football. Over the years the name has changed from Battering Ram to Ramses to Rhody the Ram, but URI’s much-loved mascot has always been at the heart of URI spirit.
Many of the items for the yard sale come from tons of material left behind by departing students. “Instead of throwing away items, students were encouraged to place them, along with unwanted clothing and non-perishable food items in lobbies of their residence halls,” said yard sale co-coordinator Nancy Hawksley, URI recycling coordinator.
“This year more 2,000 pounds of food and more than 700 pounds of
seasonal clothing were donated to the Johnnycake Center in Peace Dale. Another 500 pounds of clothing was donated to Big Sisters of Rhode Island. Yard sale items not sold by the end of the day will be donated to Kiducation.”
Individuals or groups can set up their own tables and sell their goods for a fee of $25. “We’ll also have several crafters at the yard sale,” said Gerri Beagle, fiscal manager at the URI Foundation and co-coordinator of the yard sale for the fourth year. “Allowing people to set up their own tables will be another attraction that could again make this yard sale one of the biggest in the local area.”
Community members, faculty and staff can also donate items to the URI yard sale on Thursday evenings, May 24 and 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Blue Butler Building, Greenhouse Road off Flagg Road, Room 102 and Friday, June 8 at the Keaney parking lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No large computer monitors or appliances will be accepted.
To volunteer or for more information, call Hawksley at 874-2840 or Beagle at 874-2460.