Tar Heel Treasure is a new campus initiative seeking to change UNC’s end-of-year move-out waste practices. In previous move-out seasons, a lot of items have been left behind in and around the residence halls. Futons, carpets, televisions, desk lamps, binders, clothes, food, school supplies, and microwaves are some of the many examples of what has been counted among left-behind goods.  If they did not find their way to the donation bins first, many of these valuable items were discarded as waste and sent to landfills.

The goal of the Tar Heel Treasure program is to collect as many still-usable goods that might otherwise have been discarded and offer them for sale to the campus and community through a giant yard sale.

The program will not only reduce landfill waste, but will also provide the UNC community access to still usable goods at bargain prices. Furthermore, any revenue generated by the sale will be donated to the Eve Marie Carson Scholarship Fund. The scholarship rewards engagement and achievement while at Carolina, and prepares future leaders for their work to come. It serves to support and nurture these outstanding students throughout their junior summer and senior year so that they may achieve their full potential as strong leaders.  The project will also benefit the UNC Children’s Hospital.

The success of the Tar Heel Treasure program will depend upon residence hall students donating usable goods, volunteers providing the necessary people power to sort and set up the sale, and the community to attend the event in search of great bargains.

The Program accomplishes four objectives:

1. Diverts a large volume of items from the landfill.
2. Offers the opportunity for the University and students to give back to the community through volunteerism.
3. Offers reusable goods to the community at bargain prices.
4. Generates funds in support of a great cause.

University departments and staff, along with campus student government and student volunteer groups have been dedicating their time to the program. More volunteers are needed, however.

Please go to the Volunteer signup for information on how you or your organization can become involved. Also, please mark the date, Saturday, May 16th, for Chapel Hill’s largest yard sale, Tar Heel Treasure, to be held at the Carolina North Complex on Municipal Drive.