Shopping for a good cause

Kalee Chism

Now that the spring weather is quickly approaching, it’s the time of year that yard sales start to pop up on every corner.

This year, WKU’s Student United Way will host its very own yard sale: Bargains for a Benefit.

“Bargains for a Benefit is a fundraiser that Student United Way was grandfathered into from the student activities office,” Louisville senior Rachel Byrd, the president of Student United Way, said. “Essentially, it is a yard sale that will be held on campus near Centennial Mall.”

Items are being collected from students until April 7, and by dropping these items off at the Student Activities and Organizations office located in Downing Student Union room 2059, students can earn up to five service hours. Student United Way is calling for donations of gently used items such as jewelry, clothes, small household decor and other items.

This idea began last year in the office from Josclynn Brandon, coordinator for Leadership and Volunteerism for Diversity, and was open to any organization to take over. This year, Student United Way decided to take on the challenge.

Andrew Rash, adviser for Student United Way, said the event is part of National Volunteer Week, but this is the first year it’s being run by Student United Way. Rash said he hopes this year it will be even bigger and better, especially since it is run by students and not just an individual in the Student Activities and Organizations office.

“We are collecting from students, faculty, staff, alums, everybody — whatever items they are willing to give that are yard sale items, but we are especially trying to get WKU items,” Rash said. “Those are items people would really have interest in.”

This year, items will be donated by President Gary Ransdell himself.

“We will actually have the ‘executive collection’ or — I don’t know what we’ll call it yet — but a table of things that were Dr. Ransdell’s,” Rash said.

The funds raised from the event will go to an organization of Student United Way’s choice to give back to the community. Currently, Student United Way has not chosen what organization the money raised will go to.

“The funds from this event will go towards a pot of money we’ve been working towards since fall semester,” Byrd said. “This will go towards a grant that we will allocate to a Bowling Green nonprofit organization of Student United Way’s choosing.”

Byrd said seeing the funds go to a good cause is the most rewarding part of the whole experience.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the WKU community, both students and staff, coming together to donate items that will contribute to such a wonderful cause,” Byrd said. “The most rewarding feeling that I get out of it is leading a group that has the community’s support.”

Student United Way hopes the event will be a success and wants to work to make it an annual fundraiser.

“This is something that we plan on having every single year,” said Rash. “I do anticipate that this will be an event that will become a yearly spring event and fundraiser for Student United Way.”

Bargains for a Benefit will be held around the area of Centennial Mall on April 12 and 13 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.