Carleton hosts its annual “Lighten Up!” Garage Sale

Carleton College’s annual “Lighten Up!” Garage Sale will be held Friday, June 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, June 23 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The sale site has been moved to Laird Stadium, located off Highway 19 on the Carleton campus. The popular sale converts the unwanted year-end possessions of Carleton students into bargains for area residents and cash for local charities.

Each year, Carleton’s Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) and Sustainability offices partner with three local non-profit organizations for the “Lighten Up!” sale. Proceeds from the sale are then split between those participating charities: Project Friendship, which teams up with Carleton and St. Olaf students to offer mentoring programs for local youth; The Key (Northfield Union of Youth), a non-profit youth center run by young people; and the Northfield Area Special Olympics, which offers opportunities for disabled people to get involved with sports. Last year’s sale raised over $31,000 for these Northfield non-profits.

Laird Stadium will be filled with donated belongings from Carleton students, unwanted at the end of the academic year as they moved out of their residence halls. Items on sale include clothing, winter gear, books, sporting goods, household items, furniture, bedding, electronics, and much more. The CCCE advises shoppers to shop early and often, and thanks the community for their support of this amazing fundraiser and opportunity to practice “greener” living.

For more information about this event, see the Facebook event page or email lightenup@carleton.edu.

Laird Stadium is located off Highway 19 on the Carleton College campus in Northfield. Free parking is offered in the lot to the south of the stadium.