10th annual Pack It Up, Pass It On shopping day set for Aug. 4

By Jordan Gass-Pooré
University News Service
July 28, 2011

San Marcos area residents are invited to donate unwanted belongings and volunteer for the 10th annual “Pack It Up and Pass It On” recycling program that benefits clients of United Way of Hays County partner agencies Aug. 1 to 4.

“Pack It Up and Pass It On” is Texas State University-San Marcos’ largest recycling “reuse” event that diverts more than seven tons of items from area landfills and helps more than 1,000 San Marcos residents each year.

“Pack It Up and Pass It On’ focuses on the ‘reuse’ of the three recycling R’s—reduce, reuse and recycle, ” said Kim Porterfield, director of Texas State Community Relations. “It’s true recycling. ‘Pack It Up and Pass It On’ matches unwanted items that students normally throw away at the end of the semester with local needy citizens who can use them.”

Residents can bring their tax-deductible donations to the LBJ Student Center Aug. 1-3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Helpers are also needed Aug. 1-3 to sort the items. The ballroom will be set up into a giant “garage sale” atmosphere where United Way of Hays County a gency clients can gather items they can use.

Volunteers, especially Spanish speakers, are needed to assist during the “free” shopping event on Aug. 4 from 7-10 a.m. in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom on the Texas State campus.

A Texas State Environmental Service Fee grant supported student workers in gathering donations from residence halls. The Environmental Service committee has funded several other “green” activities, such as the Bobcat Blend recycling program and the E-Waste event.

Other supporters of the program include the PODS Corporation, which supplies discounted storage PODs and other services; HEB, and Texas Disposal Systems.

Collection barrels were placed in each Texas State residence hall lobby and university apartment complexes at the end of the spring semester. Students donated clothes, shoes, books, carpets, linens, kitchen items or anything else reusable and in good condition.

To find out how you can help with this year’s “Pack It Up and Pass It On” free shopping day, call the Office of Community Relations at (512) 245-9645 or visit www.txstate.edu/community.