“Give it up for good” is the rallying cry of the organizers of the 8th annual Blue & Gold Mine Sale to be held at Milan Puskar Stadium. Students and community members on-campus and off are asked to give up their unwanted household items to the sale to benefit the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. West Virginia University and the United Way take donations of everything from furniture to d�cor to sporting equipment, set them up at Milan Puskar stadium, and hold one of the largest rummage sales in the state.

Each WVU residence hall has its own drop-off station, and there are six additional donation stations around Morgantown—Grant Avenue in front of Summit Hall, the corner of Spruce and Prospect Streets, the Seneca Center, Chateau Royale, the Area 81 parking lot at Mountaineer Station, and the Student Recreation Center parking lot. Drop off items can be taken directly to the East Gate of the stadium on Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donation stations will be open April 30 to May 16.

“The sale is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Traci Liebig, WVU’s conservation specialist. “About 50 tons of goods are kept out of the landfill, the city is cleaner because items aren’t overflowing dumpsters, and the money goes to a good cause.

“Executing this sale takes collaboration between WVU departments, including Athletics and the Center for Civic Engagement, and the city of Morgantown and private property owners that allow us to set up donation stations. For example, this year the Seneca Center has graciously allowed us another station in their parking lot.”

After donated items are sorted, WVU and the United Way will hold the rummage sale on Saturday, May 19, at the stadium’s East Gate. An admission of $4 is charged to shop from 7-8:30 a.m. After that, the entry is free and the sale lasts until noon. The sale usually boasts about 50 tons of goods for shoppers to choose from.

“The Blue & Gold Mine Sale is probably the most publicly recognizable WVU/United Way event,” said Sarah Graham, volunteer connection manager with the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. “A lot of our fundraising happens behind the scenes thanks to the campaign’s employee coordinators. However, the sale is a huge event that reminds everyone of this great partnership and what WVU does for the United Way and the community as a whole.”

Those interested in volunteering to sort items or to help during the sale may contact Sarah Graham at 304-296-7525 or sarah@teamunitedway.org.

To find out more about WVU’s sustainability efforts, go to http://wecan.wvu.edu/.

-WVU-

tgl/4/25/12

CONTACT: Traci Liebig, conservation specialist in Facilities Management
304-293-9500, Traci.Liebig@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.