Rummage in the Ramp Revs Up For Another Year

It’s that time of year again, when students descend upon Iowa City en masse, making preparations for a new school year by signing leases for Aug. 1.

In other words, it's Rummage in the Ramp time.

In past years, dumpsters were filled to the brim and curbs were lined with furniture and other items left behind as tenants of many Iowa City vacated their apartments. That is until Iowa City Neighborhood Services Coordinator Marcia Bollinger and Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Jordan put a plan in motion to alleviate some of the mess: Rummage in the Ramp.

“With the help of her interns and my supervisors, we put all the details in place to make it work,” Jordan said of the giant city garage sale that occurs a few days every year in the Chauncey Swan parking ramp.

Local nonprofit groups run the annual Iowa City event in which people drop off -- or purchase –- reusable items such as furniture, beds, books, electronic appliances and clothes.

“We see all kinds of stuff,” Jordan said. “My favorite story is from a few years ago: an older gentleman donated a beautiful antique stand-up mirror such as you would see in a wedding dress shop. It was in his attic and he wanted someone to get use out of it. It was obviously very special to him.

“The woman who bought it was ecstatic to find it and was obviously going to cherish is as much as the donor had.”

Since it’s start in 2007, Rummage in the Ramp has grown in leaps and bounds: From 250 donors and 800 shoppers in 2007 to 648 donors and 2,124 shoppers in 2010.

Donations are tax-deductible and usually priced at $1, $5, $10 and $20.  The number of volunteer agency groups running the event has also ballooned, from 10 in 2007 to 28 in 2010. Last year, groups divvied up a whopping $15,202.

“All the proceeds benefit the groups who work the event,” Jordan said. “Each group works a four-hour shift and gets a split of the proceeds based on how many groups and shifts work.”

As a result, the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center estimates 28.2 tons of material was sold and diverted from the landfill last year, with 0.9 tons books and scrap metal  recycled instead of thrown away.

“The event has started to reduce the amount of stuff left on the curb each year and encourages people to deal responsibly with their stuff rather than leaving it on the curb,” Jordan said.

Volunteers will be on hand to inspect and help unload donations, which are tax-deductible. Jordan said she wants to divert a larger amount than usual from the landfill this year. 

“I’m hoping for 35 tons this year,” she said.

Items should be brought to the parking ramp during the following donation and sales hours:

Saturday, July 23: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 24: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, July 31: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Extended hours Saturday, July 30: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Final day: Monday, August 1: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Items can also be picked up by volunteers for a fee. For more information, call 887-6160, email jennifer-jordan@iowa-city.org or visit www.icgov.org/rummageintheramp.