Lighten Up photo collage

Each Spring Carleton College students donate their unneeded items to the Lighten Up Garage Sale. Students donate a variety of items including: clothing, winter apparel, small dorm room furniture, household items, books, bedding, sport equipment, and other fun things!

In 2024, the sale kept 23 tons of potential waste out of the landfill, including $4,000 worth of school supplies for local families, and raised $31,000 for local partner nonprofits.

The proceeds provide essential funds for community non-profits and serves as an excellent lesson in “green” living and waste management.

June 2025 at Carleton’s Laird Stadium:

  • Friday June 20th 7:30am to 3pm
  • Saturday June 21st 7:30 to Noon Regular pricing, Noon to 3pm Bag sale pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the sale?

Carleton’s Laird Stadium (Enter at north end)

  • Friday June 20th 7:30am to 3pm
  • Saturday June 21st 7:30 to Noon Regular pricing, Noon to 3pm Bag sale pricing

I’m a student. How do I donate?

Who can shop at the sale?

  • Everyone! Community members are encouraged to shop.
  • Carleton Students: Be on the lookout for notices about pop-up sales during the school year.

How do you pay?

Cash, check (with ID), or credit cards 

How is the sale set up?

Everyone must enter at the north end of the stadium. Check-out is at the south end. 

How do you use the Ikea bags?

When you enter the sale, you can buy an Ikea bag for $2. Shop with it, then keep the bag or return it during checkout to get your money back.

What items are at the sale?

  • Gently used clothing and accessories
  • Bedding – single bed size
  • Sports equipment
  • Kitchen cookware
  • Storage items, closet organizers and bins
  • TVs and electronics
  • Books and Games
  • Household items, decorations, laundry bins
  • Fans, lamps, small appliances
  • Small furniture

What happens to unsold items?

At the end of the sale, local end-sale vendors come in to reuse the remaining items. Local high school thrift shops reuse the clothes, quilters reuse the bedding, local crafters also reuse clothing, E-waste and metals are recycled, and the remaining items go to nonprofits like the Epilepsy Foundation and Disabled Veterans. Please email lightenup@carleton.edu if you are interested in being an end-sale vendor.

What is the mission of Lighten Up?

Lighten Up is a community-focused event with the dual purpose of waste diversion and supporting the local community.

The proceeds provide essential funds for community non-profits and also serve as an excellent lesson in “green” living and waste management. The 2024 Lighten Up Sale raised funds and resources for Northfield Union of Youth, Project Friendship, Special Olympics, Growing Up Healthy and Operation Backpack. We couldn’t do the sale without the hard work and dedication of our community volunteers. Each community partner provides 30 hours of volunteer work each day for the three weeks prior to the sale.

In addition to the community benefits, Lighten Up helps Carleton move towards its sustainability goals. Lighten Up manages 2.5% of Carleton’s total waste stream by diverting up to 30 tons of student materials from the landfill.

Contact lightenup@carleton.edu with any further questions!