Indiana University

Skip to:

  1. Search
  2. Breadcrumb Navigation
  3. Content
  4. Browse by Topic
  5. Services & Resources
  6. Additional Resources
  7. Multimedia News

Media Contacts

Jessica Plassman
IU Office of Sustainability
jnplassm@indiana.edu
812-855-1822

Last modified: Thursday, September 5, 2013

Hoosier to Hoosier sets new record for sales

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 5, 2013

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- For the fourth year, the Hoosier to Hoosier Community Sale exceeded previous sales records, earning $32,800.

Sale organizers were concerned a new off-campus location would deter shoppers, but early-bird attendance increased, with more than 700 people entering within the first 90 minutes of the sale. Doors opened at 8 a.m., and shoppers raced to the different areas, from furniture to household goods, to gather up treasures. Organizers counted 3,036 transactions for the Aug. 24 sale day.

"I am always amazed by the generosity of the donors, the collaboration between town and gown, the hard work of the many volunteers and the patience of the crowd of shoppers," said Bill Brown, IU director of sustainability. "I hope the sale gets smaller at some point as we all realize we can enjoy life more with less stuff."

H2H volunteer

Volunteer Timothy Frank Carter Jr. sorts items for the Hoosier to Hoosier sale.

Print-Quality Photo

Building on the work of IU Residential Programs and Services, which has for many years collected for reuse the furniture and household goods left behind by students moving out of IU Bloomington residence halls, H2H was created to divert reusable items from the landfill, prevent additional resource consumption and raise funds for local charities and partner agency sustainability efforts. This year, about half of the items came from residence halls, and the other half from off-campus housing, including large apartment complexes.

The money raised from the 2013 sale will support Habitat for Humanity ReStore and sustainability efforts at the City of Bloomington Department of Economic and Sustainable Development, the IU Office of Sustainability and IU Residential Programs and Services. Approximately one-fourth of the merchandise, or two semi-truck trailers' worth, was donated to Goodwill Industries at the end of the sale.

This year, seven additional organizations were compensated in amounts ranging from $300 to $600 each for work leading up to and during sale day as part of a new community organization partnership program.

"H2H brings together such a great crew of community partners. This year we even added seven additional organizations to help us recruit volunteers," said city sustainability coordinator Jacqui Bauer. "We couldn't be happier with the results."

H2H was the first stop this year in a larger citywide reuse effort called the Resale Trail, linking seven locations where community members and students could purchase reused or repurposed goods. Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which held a patio sale as part of the Resale Trail, reported an 11 percent increase in sales receipts even with discounted prices. Another Resale Trail event, Makevention, had similar success with an estimated 1,000 attendees.

H2H organizers are looking for new volunteers interested in helping plan next year's event. To participate or volunteer for the 2014 sale, email h2h@indiana.edu. Visit the Hoosier to Hoosier website or its Facebook page for more information.