Queen’s student group Half the Sky helped make spring move-out a success by collecting used household items from departing students. The goods will be stored over the summer and then sold to incoming students during frosh week, with the proceeds going to several non-profit organizations.

“It’s students helping one another, but it’s also about making a greater impact,” says Half the Sky co-chair May Ardekani. “The money can be put towards good causes.”

This is the first year Half the Sky, an Alma Mater Society club that advocates for women’s issues and promotes social action on campus, participated in the event. The group knocked on doors for several weeks and set up in the John Deutsch University Centre on spring move-out weekend, encouraging students to bring their wares in for resale.

Half the Sky’s efforts added to the work done by the university and the city, who together with students, collected 200 bags of clothes, shoes and bedding for the Salvation Army. A large portion of the clothes collected were men’s clothes, which is often in short supply at the Salvation Army. Another 200 bags went to the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Clothesline program.

“It really demonstrates that we – the university, the city, landlords and students – are getting better at working together,” says Joan Jones, Coordinator, Town-Gown Relations. “We time our communications to students about move-out so resources don’t get lost in exam crunch-time. The City uses their database to reach property owners and landlords to communicate city strategies. Students respond with generous donations to charity.”

Spring move-out initiatives also brought in 30 boxes of books, to be distributed to students in third-world countries through non-profit organizations, and several boxes of non-perishable food items for the food bank.

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