KINGSTON, R.I. – May 27, 2008 — When packing up the car to move home in the spring, students and parents often find that the microwave or boxes of Ramen noodles just can’t fit. Fortunately the University has created a way to recycle these items while also supporting one of URI’s most famous figures: Rhody the Ram.

The fifth annual Rhody the Ram Yard Sale will be held Saturday, June 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the University of Rhode Island’s Keaney Gym parking lot.

Each May departing students leave behind tons of reusable items from their rooms in the residence halls that are donated to the food and clothing drive or the URI yard sale. “Instead of throwing away items, students were encouraged to place them, along with unwanted clothing and non-perishable food items in lobbies of their dorms,” URI Recycling Coordinator Nancy Hawksley said.

Community members, faculty and staff can also donate items to the URI yard sale on Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, June 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the former Roger Williams Dining Hall on Butterfield Road, and on Friday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Keaney parking lot, where the recycling truck will be receiving donations.

At the yard sale individuals or groups can also set up their own tables and sell their goods for a fee of $25. “We will also have several crafters and jewelry makers at the yard sale,” said Gerri Beagle, human resources and business manager at the URI Foundation and co-coordinator of the yard sale. “Allowing people to set up their own tables will be another added attraction that could make this yard sale one of the biggest in the local area.”

URI Recycling and many others volunteered their time to collect, sort and pack more than 1,882 pounds of food and 750 pounds of seasonal clothing during move-out week, which were donated to the Johnnycake Center. Big Sisters was the recipient of another 1,000 pounds of clothes, and an additional 50 pounds of blankets and towels were donated to the Animal Rescue League.

All left over items from the yard sale will be recycled to the non-profit organization KIDUCATION.

Proceeds from the yard sale will go to the Rhody the Ram Endowment established five years ago to provide financial support for students who volunteer their time performing as the Rhody the Ram mascot at University athletic contests and other events.

Recipients must be at least sophomores in good academic standing. The recipients can be a first-time mascot or someone already serving the role. Such an approach provides for the recruitment of new mascots and/or the retention of new ones.

For more information about the yard sale, please call Gerri Beagle 874-2460 or Nancy Hawksley 874-2840.