After two years off because of COVID-19, The Bates Clean Sweep sale returns this Sunday, June 12. The college’s annual indoor “garage sale” gathers thousands of items left behind by departing students and offers them to the public at prices far below what products cost new.

This year’s sale will include clothing, electronics, furniture, appliances, athletics and outdoor equipment, and countless other items. Proceeds from sale benefit local nonprofit organizations Safe Voices and John F. Murphy Homes. Safe Voices is a domestic violence resource center serving survivors in Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties, and John F. Murphy Homes provides life-enriching services to people with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.

This year’s event will run 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held at Bates’ Underhill Arena at 145 Russell Street in Lewiston and is open to the public. To learn more, email gkendall@safevoices.org or visit the event page at bit.ly/3thLSXz.