KINGSTON, R.I. – June 1, 2009 – The sixth annual Rhody the Ram Charity Yard Sale will be held Saturday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the University of Rhode Island’s Keaney Gym parking lot.
Many of the items are left behind when students leave for the summer, said URI Recycling Coordinator Nancy Hawksley. “We’ve had tremendous success getting students involved by having them donate clothes and food to charity and other items to the yard sale. Instead of throwing away items, students were encouraged to place yard sale items, along with unwanted clothing and non-perishable food items, in lobbies of their dorms,” Hawksley said.
Community members, faculty and staff can also donate items to the URI yard sale Thursday, June 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the former Roger Williams Dining Hall on Butterfield Road across from Hope Commons and Friday, June 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Keaney parking lot.
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 1,192 pounds of food and 322 pounds of seasonal clothing during move-out week, which were donated to the Johnnycake Center. 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 Big Sisters.
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.