The residents of Heemstra are turning students’ trash into treasure—and supporting a local ministry in the process. Fittingly hosted in the Heemstra lounge, the Heemstra Lounge Sale will take place on Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27. Heemstra will be opening its lounge to the entire campus for a garage sale to benefit the Bridge, a local transitional living program for women and children.
For several months, Heemstra residents have gone door-to-door collecting items for the sale. The sale will be held on Friday from noon to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to The Bridge and all leftover items will be given to Trinity Reformed Church for a clothing drive it is hosting in March.
“We did a lounge sale six years ago after the Tsunami and raised around $1,500,” said Heemstra’s Resident Director, Brian Moriarty. “This lounge sale inspired other sales like this, including the sale in the RSC after the Hurricane Katrina disaster.”
This year, the Heemstra RAs talked about it and decided to do it again, this time focusing the money on a local need in the Orange City community.
“The sale is a great way for people to downsize and simplify by donating items they don’t use or don’t need. It is also a great way to raise money by buying items you will use or do need,” Moriarty said.
Heemstra residents have already collected many items, including clothing, a few X-Boxes, TVs, some furniture, and games. If you still have items you would like to donate, you may bring your donations to the Heemstra lounge by 6:00 p.m. on Friday. After that, no more donations will be accepted, but everyone is encouraged to participate by buying items at the sale.
Senior Jacob Parsons, a Heemstra resident, said, “From our excess possessions, we can help our local community. So come support a good cause and maybe find a treasure.”