Instead of trashing used furniture and small appliances, students can donate them to help benefit Haiti.

The Haiti Connection has been at Eastern’s campus since 1989, said Roy Lanham, Haiti Connection adviser.

The 17th annual collection is called “Everything from Mugs to Rugs”.

Furniture, clothing, small appliances and household items are accepted.

The items that are donated are resold and the money goes to Haiti. The furniture that is donated is not what is actually sent to Haiti; the money raised is donated. Last year, $3,100 went to Haiti.

About 90 percent of the money raised goes to Haiti and 10 percent of the money is given to people in need, said Lanham.

The Haiti Connection usually gets a great response.

“Students typically fill up the basement of Newman Catholic Center,” Lanham said.

Kevin Harris, a senior history major, is the chair of the Haiti Connection. He has been involved with Haiti Connection for two years. He is in charge of meetings where he goes over fundraising and progress reports for the Haiti Connection.

“The best thing about being involved with the Haiti Connection is the amount of people we are helping,” Harris said.

Kyla Nance, the chair for the yard sale, is in charge of a committee for the yard sale.

Nance, a senior art major, coordinates pickup times and gets the campus ready for the yard sale.

Donations are accepted throughout the summer. Students primarily donate items before they move out and over the summer some community members donate items.

Items donated will be sold the first weekend of school.

Students interested in donating to Haiti Connection can place their donations outside the resident halls at collection areas.

Students can start donating Saturday through May 5.

Students involved with the yard sale have gotten a lot out of it.

“This raises awareness of other kinds of struggles because this country has a sort of privilege,” Nance said. “This has really opened my eyes to how people live. I have become more aware of how we are interconnected with culture.”

Off-campus students can drop off donations at the Newman Catholic Center at 500 Roosevelt Ave or call 217-348-0188.