Several hundred "early bird" shoppers are greeted by a pleasant morning on Saturday, May 30, as they wait for the opening of the 2009 Trash to Treasure Sale, held under Beaver Stadium. Shoppers had the opportunity to purchase thousands of items donated primarily by students -- 63.4 tons in total -- during the spring 2009 semester. The event, in its eighth year, brought in more than $60,000 this year for the Centre County United Way, while saving the goods from being thrown away. The Penn State Housing Office, Office of Physical Plant and the Centre County United Way jointly coordinate the event.

At 6:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 45 minutes before the opening of Penn State's annual Trash to Treasure sale, the queue of shoppers, starting at Beaver Stadium's Gate C, had almost wound its way to Gate B, nearly one-fifth of the way around the facility. The line reached several thousand by the official opening at 7:30 a.m. Penn State's Housing Office and Office of Physical Plant have held the event each year for eight years straight, averaging $50,000 in sales to benefit the Centre County United Way. Items for sale have all been donated, primarily from students living on campus, and totaled 63.4 tons this year.

Volunteers for the 2009 Trash to Treasure sale received last-minute instructions from Pam Stellabotte, United Way communications director, left, minutes before the sale began.

Shoppers rush into Beaver Stadium on Saturday, May 30, at the start of the 2009 Trash to Treasure Sale which began at 7:30 a.m. outside Gate C of the stadium complex. In its eighth year, the sale has helped the Penn State Housing Office and Office of Physical Plant keep tons of usable goods out of landfills by organizing a donation system mainly for students living on campus. The proceeds of the sale benefit the Centre County United Way. This year, 63.4 tons of such donations were available for purchase during the sale, which ran from 7:30 a.m. through 3 p.m.

Shoppers navigate sales tables located around the lower concourse of Beaver Stadium during the 2009 Trash to Treasure Sale on Saturday, May 30. More than 63.4 tons of clothes, electronics, housewares and other usable items were available for purchase at very low prices during the event, which helps the Centre County United Way, as well as keeping the materials out of landfills. Most items have been donated by students following the spring 2009 semester.

Ellie Beaver, Centre County United Way executive director, left, helps sort dollar bills with Conal Carr, Penn State director of housing, top, and United Way board of directors member Col. (ret.) Gerald Russell, right, at the cashiers' area of the annual Trash to Treasure sale on Saturday, May 30. Each year for eight years, the event, hosted by Penn State's Housing Office and Office of Physical Plant, brings in an average of $50,000 for the Centre County United Way. Items sold at the event were donated by students following the Penn State Spring 2009 semester, and sold at very low prices to community members.