Everything has value. Everyone has value. That has been a recurring theme for countless people during this pandemic. It has always been a constant theme for us in our work, making connections between clients who are parting with possessions and those who might want or need them. It is hugely rewarding to find new homes for no-longer-needed “stuff” and divert as much as possible away from landfill.
In April, we worked with a wonderful client who had been in public service for their entire professional life. After decades living in NYC, it was time to settle in near family in a beautiful part of the country. The new home was much smaller than the sprawling old NYC apartment, and after moving the most important treasures to their new home, there were a lot of useful household items left to find homes for. Having only recently discovered The Children’s Village and Bridge Builders Community Partnership in the Bronx, we reached out to them to see if they would take a donation. As fate would have it, a horrible, block-wide fire in their community had created a great need for all kinds of everyday items. So we leaped into action. We packed up shirts, sweaters, coats, unused socks, caps, gloves, and scarves. Plus, pots, pans, utensils, dishes, mixing bowls, a microwave, coffee makers, space heaters, canned goods, peanut butter, napkins, cleaning supplies, a new rollator, wheelchair, and even toilet paper and light bulbs! When you’ve just lost everything in a fire, you can’t afford $4 for a lightbulb.
Bridge Builders did not have a truck big enough to handle this donation, but they had the space, and they sure had the need. With many phone calls and arrangements to be made, our deadline for emptying the apartment was approaching rapidly. We called on our long-time colleagues at Liffey Van Lines, and they generously offered to send a truck at no charge. Finally we had all the logistics in place and a date was set. All went smoothly from pick up to drop off. Even before we left, people were picking up things that we had just delivered. This made us, and everyone else involved feel like together we had done something important to help a community that day.
