Worthmore began with the move-out of Spring 2017, replacing the Trash2Treasure summer sale that operated from 2007 to 2015. Due to a combination of factors, we decided to discontinue Trash2Treasure and to consider alternative means to make use of the items students leave behind. Because the sale took place over the summer, Trash2Treasure was formerly inaccessible to most Swarthmore students despite selling items that students really need. By saving items for the Free Store, we hope to help the needs of incoming and returning students. Furthermore, the previous model for the sale required hundreds of volunteer hours on the part of staff and significant funding to pay student workers. By using any lounge as a collection point (instead of our now more limited designated areas), the previous system left EVS staff with the burden of transporting, sorting, and separating donations from trash.

Weekly open hours are hosted by Green Advisors. Worthmore is located in the Willets Hall basement and is accessible through the LL entry. Worthmore is closed over the summer but will reopen in the fall.

You will most likely be able to find the following items at the free store :

• Binders, folders, notebooks, blank, lined, and colored paper, regular and colored pencils, markers, pens, sticky notes, index cards, scissors, pencil bags, staplers, staples, hole punches, push pins, organizers (metal and plastic), whiteboards, cups, glasses, plates, bowls, water bottles, utensils, tupperware, bags, hangers, shower caddies, hanging storage racks, vases, and so many decorations like lights, posters, and trinkets.

You may be able to find the following items at the free store :

• Fans, lamps, waste bins, mirrors (large and cosmetic), rugs, furniture, storage containers (small and large) cooking utensils, platters and mixing bowls, pots and pans, water filters, other electrical appliances, mops, brooms, and dustpans, bed pillows, arts and craft supplies, yoga mats, sports equipment, games, laundry baskets and hampers, air humidifiers.

You will not be able to find the following items at the free store:

• Large furniture, pillows, sheets, and blankets, clothing, hygrine items, or food. If you're in need of some of these items please contact the Director of FLI, Dean Karen Henry or the Director of the Intercultural Center, Jennifer Marks Gold.

When deciding whether an item can be donated, be practical and respectful! Do not donate items that are unhygienic, contain any personal identification, or are against College policy (e.g., candles).

During move-out, please place all donated items in bins in the correct designated area. For example, clothing and shoes goes in the large, GreenDrop cardboard box. Learn more here about which items will and will not be accepted as donations during move-out.

Typically, at the end of every spring semester, we open up extensive donation opportunities in residence halls during our move-out program. Students are asked to bring all re-usable items to designated lounges, typically on the bottom floor of each residence hall, and sort items into pre-marked areas that are set up during finals.

We need everyone’s participation to take responsibility for your communal spaces.

• Do not remove tape or move lounge furniture back into taped areas. This will negatively impact the EVS and OOS staff, and student workers in your building.
• If it’s really trash, do not donate it!
• ALWAYS fold cardboard boxes before recycling and place by recycling bins or take outside to recycling toters.

Please see more detailed information in our sub-pages about residence hall donation sites, how the lounges will be set-up, and what you can and cannot donate.

During the academic year, specific items can be brought directly to the Free Store in Willets. We are no longer collecting  perishable or non-perishable food donations, mini-fridges, or large furniture. Please reach out to GreenDrop  or a local charity organization to donate ​​​​​​these items.

During spring finals ONLY, we set up special donation sites in residence hall lounges in order to manage the extremely high volume of donations that we typically receive during move-out. Residence hall donation sites are set up in end of April or early May and are typically open for several weeks. We can't be exact with the days because both setting up and breaking down the sites takes the Worthmore team a few days on each end to set up and clean up.
 

Worthmore Free Store is primarily run by the Worthmore Coordinators, with ongoing support from​ the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Services. The Worthmore Move-Out process is managed by Green Advisors, Worthmore student workers, the Office of Sustainability, and Environmental Services.

Key contacts are:

Clare Hyre, Associate Director of Sustainability 
chyre1@swarthmore.edu

Christopher "Chip" Proctor, Environmental Services Manager cprocto1@swarthmore.edu