Community-wide Garage Sale Returned
The long-standing annual event of Garage Sale and Market returned to the HKUST campus on 4 November 2023. After a few years of pandemic restrictions, the Sustainability/Net-Zero Office and Campus Management Office jointly organized this sustainable and joy-filling event for our staff, students, alumni, families and friends and neighborhood.
As a public event, the Garage Sale attracted 145 tables participating this year, selling second-hand items ranging from clothing, toys, children’s books, handicraft and appliances. We also invited a number of charities and vendors promoting upcycled and green products to be part of it. Among them were our alumni, Breer-food upcycling startup, FWB -smoothie made out of freeze-dried real fruits, GreenRPan - refurbishes non-sticking coating on kitchenware. The event provided an opportunity for charities to share their advocacy and fundraise including Turtle Advocates Hong Kong, Sai Kung Stray Friends, PathFinders, Mountain and the Sea, Christian Concern for The Homeless Association etc. Some student groups outreached with their sustainability mission, UniGreen Eats had free vegetarian food tasting and MoveUST promoting their new well-being app.
The event, for the first time, was held in the Atrium, with more access to sunlight and open space. As kids were our key participants, the carnival-like Garage Sale was giving out free snacks of popcorn and egg waffles, having workshops of soy-wax candle making and plant pounding for tote bags. The University Parents Community (UPC) was also holding face-painting, kids art and craft activities and sharing food at the booth. A Busking area with musical performances by students of HKUST, Clearwater Bay School and International Christian School brightened up the vibe of a sunny Saturday afternoon! Well-being is one of our 2028 Sustainability goals. We hope the event brought people from different backgrounds together, and through connection to show our appreciation and support to each other.
With the theme of “Zero Waste”, not only selling/reusing the second-hand items to save them sending to the landfill, but all the participants were asked to bring their reusable food containers to enjoy the food or borrow a container at the Jockey Club Sustainable Campus Consumer Program vending machine or pay $1 for the Zero plastic takeaway container from Ecoinno that can be composted with food waste.
We thank for all the active participation and support from the table owners and visitors, and grateful to hear the positive feedback.
“We and our kids really enjoyed it and lots of our secondhand stuff have found new owners instead of going to the rubbish bin. It is not money orientate it of selling secondhand goods but very meaningful about recycle and the message of eco-friendly.”- table owner
“Thanks for all the excellent organization for Saturday’s Garage Sale, it was great to see everyone in the Atrium which was a much better venue as much lighter and airier. I really enjoyed the occasion. I hope you can repeat it.”-table owner
“It was wonderful to see the talents and passion in HKUST and our community. We had a children choir, a group of highschool students, UST undergraduates, post-doc student and alumna for the performance, it was like uncovering a gem stone and it really brightened the event and brought everyone together. “ -Hyldeguard, alumna, staff, singer-songwriter
“It was a great experience for us and looking forward to your future events and potential sponsorship to the student's committees prizes.”-Jerwine from The Blomstre.
We look forward to seeing you at our next event!
