As Emory students prepare to leave campus for the summer, they'll have an opportunity to donate discarded belongings to support a good cause.

The annual "Don't Dump It, Donate It" drive invites students to contribute unwanted clothing, household items, and school supplies to support relief efforts for U.S. families affected by recent tornadoes and hurricanes.

Instead of clogging local landfills, student cast-offs will be directed to Magnolia Disaster Relief, a Georgia-based agency that aids those affected by natural disasters. Last year, Emory student donations supported 66 families in the South who had lost homes and belongings to tornadoes, hurricanes and flooding.

Collection trucks will receive donations from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at five campus locations:

• May 7-10 — Dobbs University Center loading dock, Woodruff Residential Center and behind The Complex (Hopkins, Smith and Thomas residence halls).

• May 7-16 — Clairmont Tower and behind Sorority Village.

Students may also donate books to Better World Books, which collects books, sells them online through betterworldbooks.com and donates proceeds to its literary partners. Collection bins can be found at the Emory Recycling Center and Dobbs University Center.

The collection drives are sponsored by Emory Recycles and the offices of Sustainability Initiatives and Residence Life and Housing. For more information, call 404-727-9275.