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12
De-Cluttering and Giving Back
Fall is FINALLY here and I (Leigh here), have been hit with the clean it out, de-clutter and clear the decks for the holiday season bug. There's just something about the crisp air and no humidity that makes me more willing to tackle the garage and attic and paperwork and files... you get the picture!
I just read this very helpful article on where to donate your gently used items, and it reminded me yet again about how fortunate we are to have CARITAS here in Richmond.
Kate and I tell all of our Sellers about them, because for a small fee, they'll send a truck to pick up basically anything you have to donate.
So, perhaps you're thinking... what do they do with everything?
Well... First and Foremost, they are in the business of re-building lives, and one big chunk of that is having a place to live. So, with all of the gently used items that are donated, they actually put together the building blocks of functioning in a home. So packages are put together of...
- 4 forks, 4 knives, 4 spoons, 4 plates, 4 glasses, 4 mugs
- 1 dining table (many made on-site by volunteers and participants in their programs) and 4 chairs
- a sofa or 2 upholstered chairs
- twin beds (also made on site), or double bed (for couples)
You get the picture.
Everything that has come in is put in a huge warehouse. The sorting is done by many hands - and they love to have YOU, your family, groups you belong to etc. to handle this. Then their clients get to go "shopping".
I've done it several times - and what a great experience it is. One of my times there, I happened to fold 2 twin flannel sheet sets that were decorated in a holiday theme. Shortly after I placed them on the shelf, a mom came and I overheard her saying she had 2 little girls. I was so excited to show her the sheets - and her eyes really did light up because she now had a Christmas gift for her girls.
But you may have donated items that are more than someone who has literally nothing can use. So what happens to those items? Glad you asked! They have an on-line auction and monthly warehouse sale that are open to the public. It's called the Gathered Goods Marketplace. All profits are plowed directly back into Caritas's programs.
Another question is... will they take items other groups don't want? The 2 biggest stand outs are used mattresses - which basically no one really will take, and sofas and chairs that may have seen better days. They tear the mattresses apart and donate the materials to animal shelters for bedding. If salvageable, the upholstered furniture is baked (to kill any potential bed bugs) and then re-cycled to their clients or the Gathered Goods Marketplace. If not, it is also torn apart for the animal shelters.
NOTHING goes to waste!
There is even a program where you can give the gift of Caritas in lieu of an actual present.
As you nest and de-clutter and open your heart during this holiday season, both Kate and I hope you'll think of Caritas!
