A line of more than 50 people gathered under umbrellas and waited for the grand opening of the Trash to Treasure Sale Room while eating cake and drinking lemonade.

Run by the Penn State Student United Way, the program takes students' donations from their dorm rooms, apartments or homes and sells them back to the community and students, giving profits to more than 36 charities.

It is a spin-off of the Beaver Stadium Trash to Treasure sale that took place in May, which sold more than 70 tons of items and raised $38,000.

The Trash to Treasure Sale Room sold $1,203 worth of items during Saturday's grand opening, more than the group's president, Jackie Clarhaut (junior-sociology) expected.

The sale room will continue to be open the second Saturday of each month.

They sell items including fans, carpets and clothes for a general price of under $10.

"Compared to Wal-Mart, it is less than half price," said Connie Schroeder, Student United Way adviser.

Clarhaut expects there to be a new wave of donations that will be readied for sale on Dec. 13.

The sale room was started from scratch but aimed toward the same goals as the Beaver Stadium sale, Schroeder said.

"There are three motivations. It is an opportunity to recycle, an opportunity to raise money for local charity and an opportunity to work town-gown public relations," she said.

Saturday's sale featured three tons of items and saved about $500 between landfill fees and transportation, said Al Matyasovsky, waste management supervisor.

Students who visited the sale room realized the recycling benefits this project has.

"It's a great cause. It is stuff that was going to go to the landfills otherwise. It's cheap, and if it works, it works," Matt Dunn (sophomore-marketing) said.

Students can donate by contacting their housing area supervisor.

Another way to donate is to simply go to the sale.

"I don't always have money to donate through the payrolls so I like to take part in all they have," said Julie Corl, a State College resident.

Some people were in anticipation of this year's event.

"I donated a lot of crap last year, so I have been waiting for [the sale]," Dunn said.

Andrew Kender, of Ohio, wandered over from the men's rugby game over to the sale room and said it was an awesome idea that he had never seen before.

"Well I might haul something back, maybe something we can't find in Columbus," Kender said.

Several students are proud of Trash to Treasure, saying it's a great way to give back.

"I definitely think it is a good idea. The fact that they took the time to give something that benefits someone," Laura Owen (junior-nutrition) said.

Officials say this program benefits town-gown relations.

"Students aren't always out doing unproductive things. Our students do wonderful, supportive things, and this is an example," Matyasovsky said.

This weekend included the Fresh Start volunteering event, which provided several hundred students with an opportunity to participate in community service projects.

"I always thought that PSU was a self absorbed college who fed mostly large corporations, but I had to change my mind with all the help I've seen," said Chris Lee, chief executive officer at Boal Mansion, one of the local participants in Fresh Start. "PSU is a part of the community."

The sale room is located behind the Blue Band's practice area, north of Park Avenue, off Big Hollow Road.