The Give ‘N’ Take is a student-founded and run operation that recycles used goods and gives students an opportunity to improve their standard of living. The Give ‘N’ Take was founded in 2010 by Kelly Ingold Nelson as a one-day senior project, but has caught hold at BYU-Hawaii and is now “almost its own little village,” stated Gabrielle Sabalones, the Give ’N’ Take student manager. Sabalones said BYUH is in a unique circumstance with students who come from all over the world. Students arrive here with very little to their name, and with support from the Give ’N’ Take, they are able to get cribs and toys for their babies, find clothes for themselves, and feel a part of the community. Give ’N’ Take has also partnered with a few charities from around the island to give excess clothes away and give back to the community of Oahu. “The benefits of the Give ’N’ Take are pretty obvious,” joked Cara Adams, a 2014 BYUH graduate and mother of a 9-month-old boy. “You give a little and are able to take advantage of the recycled goods of others.” Adams was able to use the Give ’N’ Take after she had her son. Adams also said, “There are many options for baby clothes over there and the workers really helped out to make sure I had a good experience with my baby as well.” Bogan Henderson, a transfer student from BYU in Provo, said, “The Give ’N’ Take is very useful for all students but especially me. I am new here to BYUH. I needed some things and I have found many good items here to help with the transition into the hales.” Henderson said he is a big supporter of the Give ’N’ Take and hopes others take advantage of the great resources on campus to save some money and give back. Helping the student community and seeing the standard of living go up is what keeps Sabalones working through the hot and humid days in the Give ’N’ Take containers. “That is what keeps me coming back every day. It is not necessarily fun or glamorous and it doesn’t pay that well, but to see what a difference it can make in students lives; that is worth it,” said Sabalones. The Give ’N’ Take is located behind Hale 5 and is open Monday-Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To take advantage of all the resources there, just spend about 30 minutes helping Give ‘N’ Take organize or straighten up. Then you can take up to 10 items. You can drop items off in areas behind the hales, and there are drop boxes around campus as well.
Writer: Trenton McCullough
