A Mountain of Blessings
At the beginning of every year, I tend to get a little antsy. After the rush of the holidays, my house is usually trashed and I’m inevitably trying to find places to cram all the new Christmas gifts. When I have time, I’ll begin a massive project that encompasses cleaning out every cabinet, closet, drawer – basically every nook and cranny. My family dreads it, and the entire time I’m purging, I wonder, “Where did we get all this stuff and why do we feel like we need more?”
It’s been my practice for years to donate items to a local charity rather than go through the hassle of putting together a garage sale. I’ve always liked knowing that the things we aren’t using can meet someone else’s need rather than just taking up space. I say all of this because it got us thinking about the process involved in donating items to a non-profit agency for resale.
I spent a couple of hours at Downtown Women’s Center’s Thrift City on 10th Street to see how they process donations. Diann Gilmore, the executive director of the DWC and founder of Thrift City, took me on a tour of the facility before we got to work. True to form, Diann had a hug and a word of encouragement for every employee and volunteer working that day.
First I met Wade Mathis, the DWC truck driver, the one who traverses the city picking up donations. Wade had a contagious smile the entire time we worked and I was surprised to discover that even though it was his day off, he was still there to lend a hand.
When we made our way into the sorting area, I was stunned by the mountain of donations. Plastic bags and boxes were piled to the ceiling waiting to be sorted. (And I thought my own clean-out project had been daunting!) Suffice it to say that the DWC needs help. They provide jobs to 30 employees at Thrift City, but the help of volunteers will make getting items out of bags and onto the sales floor a much quicker process.
Two faithful employees, Ashley Truelove and Alma McCuistion, were tackling the arduous task of inspecting all the clothes before they are sent to the hanging room. Diann and I both grabbed a bag and got started while Alma filled me in on the rules. The DWC has very strict standards for the items that end up on their sales floor. Everything must be clean and in good working order. Clothing can’t have any holes, missing buttons, broken zippers or stains and must be current season. If not, they throw away soiled or damaged clothing and bale the rest to be sent on to third world countries and other places across the U.S.
Needless to say, I quickly learned donating etiquette, something I hadn’t given much thought to in the past, as I’d clean out my junk, throw it in a bag, and call someone to pick it up. It’s going to help the needy and my closets are nice and tidy so that’s all that matters, right? Wrong. The longer I worked, the worse I felt about how careless I had been. The containers that had been carefully packed with folded, freshly laundered or dry cleaned items made my job much easier, as opposed to when volunteers had to sort through wet, soiled and damaged clothing. The bottom line is if something needs to be thrown away, throw it away. And if you wouldn’t wear it, don’t send it.
Diann was quick to tell me that even though the task seems overwhelming, every item that people donate is a “blessing” and she’s thankful for each one. In fact, every time she sorts donations, she says it reminds her of being a little girl and hunting bird eggs with her grandmother. She enjoys the thrill of opening each bag, not knowing what surprises might await her. Diann’s joy is infectious, and we had such a good time together as we worked. All of the employees and volunteers that I met were invariably kind and treat each other like family. In spite of the fatigue involved in the endless sorting, they laugh, chat and enjoy each other’s company. It’s clear they are committed to their work.
This kind of volunteer work is perfect for those of us who get a rush from setting things in order. From the sorting room, to the hanging room, to prepping and pricing, there’s plenty of work to be done. You can leave at the end of a work day feeling like you’ve accomplished something tangible. And who knows? You might just leave with a few new treasures of your own. I was happy to pay an Uptown Shoppe rate of only $8 for a brand-new (price tags still attached) jacket from Steinmart!
If you have a volunteer opportunity available and would like to see it featured, contact Michele at michele.mcaffrey@amarillo.com
by Michele McAffrey
Born and raised in Amarillo, Michele enjoys cooking for her large family and spending time with them on the weekend.Sowing a Seed and Sharing the Benefits: The Randall Master Gardeners
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