Tracey Sunderland hangs jackets in preparation for the Trash to Treasure sale at Beaver Stadium in May.
Now get set for “Trash to Treasure,” the movie. A new documentary explores the benefit extravaganza that annually draws huge crowds of bargain hunters to Beaver Stadium, including early birds who line up at dawn. Started by Penn State in 2002, Trash to Treasure supports the Centre County United Way by selling an array of goods donated by students during the spring semester. This May, hundreds of Penn State employees and volunteers sorted and arranged 70 tons of items, helping to raise about $65,000. The film’s premiere will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Penn State’s Eisenhower Auditorium. After the free showing, Trash to Treasure committee members will hold a panel discussion about the sale. Joanne Shafer, the county recycling coordinator, and United Way agency leaders and clients also appear in the film to address the sale’s environmental and social impact. “It was easy for me to make the movie an hour and 10 minutes,” said Patishnock, who worked as a Penn State digital media specialist before leaving earlier this month to pursue a master’s degree in journalism at Indiana University. “I probably could have made it two hours.”
Al Matyasovsky, a physical plant supervisor who directs Penn State’s recycling program, helped found the sale to save landfill space. He said the film pays tribute to the generosity and dedication of students, university employees and local residents.