Before they leave campus in May, Cornell students are expected to donate about 15,000 items of clothing to several local community agencies. That's more than one article of clothing for each undergraduate student at Cornell.

Dan Walega, student coordinator of the Recycling Committee at Ecology House, said specially marked collection boxes will be in the lobbies of residence halls, the Big Red Barn, Willard Straight Hall, Noyes Community Center and Robert Purcell Community Center May 2 through 16. Donations also may be left on the front steps at Ecology House, a residence hall dedicated to environmental education and awareness. Ecology House is located off Triphammer Road in the village of Cayuga Heights.

Donations are being sought from faculty, staff and students, and the drive is being sponsored by Ecology House in cooperation with the university's Office of Campus Life.

"Each year, we collect used and new clothing, including some that still have price tags," Walega said. "We also receive small appliances, games and stuffed animals that we share with groups helping the homeless and other less fortunate people in Tompkins County."

Ecology House is still selecting the local agencies that will receive this year's donated items, he added.

For more information, call Tim Patronski, chair of the clothing recovery drive, at (607) 253-0611.