Give a Thread
Freshmen Rachel Lauver and Kate Baginski, PittServes volunteers, sort and count donated clothing in the William Pitt Union as the Pitt community attempts to set a new Guinness World Record for the most clothing collected for donation or recycling. (See Dec. 4, 2014, University Times.) The donation deadline for Pitt’s Give a Thread clothing drive, originally set for Jan. 9, has been extended till the end of February.
Approximately 30,000 items had been received as of earlier this week, organizers estimated. Pitt’s goal is to collect 150,000 items in order to break the record of 146,411 items, set in Dubai last September.
Large clothing items such as shirts, suits, pants, skirts and dresses in any condition count toward the record. Clean items in good condition will be donated to nonprofit groups, the University Career Development and Placement Office and to stock a planned on-campus thrift store. The clothing is being stored at Surplus Property prior to the world record attempt count.
Stained or torn items will be shredded by Goodwill for use in insulation. Goodwill also is picking up items such as shoes, underwear and accessories, which don’t count toward the world record, volunteers said.
PittServes director Misti McKeehen said she is aiming to conduct the world record attempt in early March.
To keep tabs on the collection’s progress or find details on collection locations, visit www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/pittserves/give-thread.
—Kimberly K. Barlow