March 1, 2017

Goodwill Hunting event attracts almost 1000 students

Everything gone in 35 minutes.  

Happy students walked away from this year’s Goodwill Hunting event, clutching bags full of free homewares.

Items included appliances, crockery, cutlery, dinner sets, mattresses, books, blankets, towels, sheets, glassware, coffee tables, bicycles, desks and more.

Doors opened last Friday (24 February) at noon, with students lining up as early as 8am.

Despite large attendance numbers, one of the event organisers Heidi De Coster said the event was calm and orderly.

“There were a few people floating around as early as 7am and we had to tell them to come back a bit later,” she said.

She thanked UOW staff and the community for their continued generosity in donating goods to help UOW students and volunteering their time for “this mammoth project”.

“The support we get is overwhelming and it grows every year,” she said.

“The students are just so surprised and grateful that UOW staff and the community care enough about them to donate good quality items to help them set up home.

“It’s particularly good for international students who can’t bring anything with them when they move here to study."

Goodwill Hunting began several years ago and is now a fixture on UOW’s Orientation Week calendar for students.