ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell's third annual Dump & Run collection began this week on May 9. Students moving out after a hectic finals week can dump items they no longer want or cannot fit into their cars or suitcases into Dump & Run collection boxes located all over campus. Staff, faculty and community members are also encouraged to donate.

Dump & Run accepts almost all donations: non-perishable food, clothing, shoes, books, electronics, kitchenware, toiletries, decorations, school supplies and more. Items not accepted are trash, foam mattress pads, underwear and socks.

Collection boxes have been placed in undergraduate residence halls, graduate housing communities, cooperative houses, sororities, community centers, the Johnson School atrium, Statler Student Lounge, Vet School, Law School, Willard Straight Hall, Day Hall mailroom and Humphreys Service Building. Collections end Sunday, May 22, for all locations except Schuyler House, Hughes Hall, Maplewood and Hasbrouck Apartments, for which the last collection will be June 1.

For those who do not live on campus and cannot access a collection box, Dump & Run will arrange home pickups. To schedule a pickup, contact Mike Mott at mm52@cornell.edu or 255-0295, providing at least 48 hours' notice.

Volunteers will sort collected items during the summer and sell them at a huge yard sale during Orientation Weekend, Aug. 20 and 21, in Helen Newman Gym. All proceeds from the sale will benefit three local charities: Cops, Kids & Toys, the Women's Advocacy Center and the Dream Factory. Cops, Kids and Toys helps local families unable to provide holiday gifts for their children. The Women's Advocacy Center provides free services, support, and educational programs for women and children who have encountered sexual abuse and harassment, abusive relationships or domestic violence. The Dream Factory grants dreams to children ages 3-18 who have been diagnosed with critical or chronic illnesses.

For more information regarding the collection, or to volunteer, contact Lauren Jacobs at lj29@cornell.edu or Jon Doyle at jrd42@cornell.edu.

Dump & Run Inc. http://www.dumpandrun.org is a national 501c(3) organization. The Cornell chapter of Dump & Run was founded in 2003. Two Dump & Run events at Cornell have raised a total of $18,000 for local charities and rerouted 40,000 pounds of reusable items from dumpsters to people who can use them. Dump & Run is sponsored by Cornell Campus Life. To find out more, visit http://www.campuslife.cornell.edu.