1. Our “Story of Stuff” The University of Louisville Free Store Free Store Laura Krauser Co-Founder, Undergrad Justin Mog Sustainability Coordinator

2. Students’ Dilemma…  Making decisions: availability, accessibility  Simple decisions become more complicated How do we acquire stuff? Who made this stuff? What do I do with all my extra stuff?!  If everybody has these questions, there must be a solution!...

3. Students’ Solution!  Promoting sustainability through the reuse of clothing, books, household items, etc.  Cycling used stuff to make that stuff easier on the pocketbook and the planet.  Students organize in 2012-13 through the student environmental RSO, Group Recycling And Sustainable Solutions (GRASS), to present a proposal too good for the administration to refuse!  With the help of the Sustainability Coordinator and sympathetic staff in Housing & Residential Life, GRASS opened the student-run, all-volunteer UofL Free Store in Fall 2013!

4. Getting started: Ideas to Action  Prior efforts at UofL:  Out-sourced collection bins  ‘Yard Sales’  Move-Out Waste Reductions “Swap Shop” “Lighten Your Load” “Give and Go!” (Goodwill/KAB) >> From event-based projects to a permanent entity

5. Don’t Trash It! April 11 – May 13

6. Making it work  Finding Free Space  Working with Housing & Sustainability Council  Signage & Shelving  Inspiration from others:  Duke  Warren-Wilson  Staffing  Hours  Donations & distribution

7. Challenges  Facility/access issues  Limited space vs Big Stuff  Staffing and availability  Publicity  Decision-making body  International students  Food Bank: Non-perishable food items  Work-Study Student through Housing Opportunities

9. Your “story of stuff”  Host a clothes-swap within campus living communities  Fun & Community-building  Event-based, small-scale  Have an annual sale/redistribution and collect throughout the year  One or two weeks of intensive work  Special collections for reuse:  Graduation Gowns  Uniforms / Costumes  Holiday & Event Decorations  Art & School Supplies  Cooking Supplies We can all benefit from reusing stuff!