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Victoria's Secret's Pink Collegiate Collection kicked off the "Recycle your Sweats" campaign to help clothe needy families.

Victoria's Secret wants to see your sweats

Univ. competing with SEC schools

By: CHELSEA COOK

Posted: 12/3/08

Victoria's Secret may be the queen of nearly nothing, but this December, it's hoping to make a few families a little warmer.

The Pink Collegiate Collection has teamed up with students at 14 universities for a "Recycle your Sweats" campaign.

"Now that Victoria Secret is making clothing with Georgia bulldogs on it, this is an advertising campaign, but they wanted to do something good with it," said brand ambassador Lauren Wheeler, a senior telecommunication arts major from Marietta.

Victoria's Secret set up a giant recycling bin in Baxter Street Bookstore's parking lot in hopes that students will donate clothing.

"You can recycle any clothing item, new or used, men's or women's clothing," Wheeler said.

The clothing is then donated to Project Safe, a charity that supports women and families who are victims of domestic violence.

"[Project Safe was chosen because] it is an ideal organization in Athens that was local and had a mission to help more than just one specific group," said campus representative Tiffany Ward, a junior speech communication major from Ellenwood. "It reaches out to a lot of different people depending on the situation that needs help."

Campus representatives empty the bin every week and deliver the donated clothing to Project Safe.

"[Project Safe has] specific families that they sponsor if they get enrolled in the program, or at one of the shelters they have across the state," Ward said. "They take clothes to the families, and what's left over they put in the thrift store, and the money they get from those sales goes back into the Project."

But supporting Project Safe isn't the only incentive for students to sift through their closets. "Recycle your Sweats" has made the donation drive a competition between the 14 universities - seven of which are SEC schools.

"RECYCLE YOUR SWEATS"

When: Until Dec. 17.
Where: Baxter Street Bookstore
parking lot
More info: www.vspink.com/
recycle_sweats.jsp

"When you have the incentive of rivalry in the SEC, it adds a competitive edge just to maximize donations," Ward said. "Some people will give out of the kindness of their hearts, but some people, especially college students, like that competition."

The campus representatives empty the bins each week and count the clothing items. The amount is then recorded on the Victoria's Secret Web site. The University is currently in fourth place with a total of 2,585 clothing items. A first place prize has yet to be announced.

"They had mentioned something like a scholarship donated towards the University, but they're not positive what the prize is going to be yet," Wheeler said. Students have until Dec. 17 to push the University to the No. 1 slot, but Ward encourages them to not forget the real mission behind the donations.

"It's a perfect opportunity for students to take a moment and humble themselves and reflect on the blessings we have in being able to attend a university like UGA," she said. "One person's trash is another person's treasure."