Another school year draws to an end and its time to check out of the dorms. But what do you do with things you don’t want to lug all the way home? Housing and Property Management has partnered with the Committee of 19 in the campaign, “Check Out for Charity.” The purpose is to collect items that most students throw away at the end of the year and donate them to the Salvation Army and the East Alabama Food drive.

“Each year you can drive around Auburn and see perfectly good items that others could use go to waste,” said Amy Butler, who works for Housing and Property Management.

This project was started 15 years ago by David Mattox, director of Housing and Property Management and Monty Gillock, the safety inspector for the dormitories.

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“The goal was to encourage others to donate goods they weren’t taking home with them instead of throwing them away,” Butler said.

Sarah Klostermeyer, a senior at Auburn, has made it a habit to clean out her room and donate old clothes and various items she no longer uses.

“Coming from out-of-state I really don’t have the option of bringing home a whole lot,” Klostermeyer said. “So much collects in over the course of year, it feels good to be able to give it to someone who needs it instead of just throwing it away.”

“Check Out for Charity” is accepting everything from clothes, books and bedding, to new or slightly used cleaning products. All unopened food and household cleaning products collected will be given to the Alabama Food drive, and all other items will go to the Salvation Army.

There will be bins placed in the lobby of all residence halls beginning April 26 for food donations and larger items may be placed in mobile attics located around campus on April 28 through the end of finals.

Students who live off campus are also encouraged to donate anything they are throwing away to local charities.