It’s time to think outside the box when it comes to donating items to the Roanoke Rescue Mission. The 4th St. homeless shelter and recovery center can use discarded and not-so-glad rags, not to mention worn out and stained clothes – even those garments with missing buttons, and broken snaps and busted zippers.
That’s because the fabric from those items can be recycled at the Rescue Mission. Some people who donate their old, unusable clothing label them as rags, said Lee Clark, the Mission’s Director of Development and Administration. This means they can be thrown right into the Mission’s Thrift Shop basement, where they are baled by Joe Covey and his team. Clothing not already labeled is sorted into usable and recyclable by volunteers. Charlotte Anders, Thrift Shop Manager, said volunteers are always needed to sort clothing donations.
The Mission sold 290,268 bales of unusable clothing in 2009, which is fabric that didn’t end up being tossed into the landfill said Clark. That material will be recycled into new fabric and paper. Not only does this effort bring in revenue for the Mission, it saves money by not having to dump over 1 million pounds a year of potential recyclables into the landfill.
In addition to baled fabric, the Mission also recycles metal—aluminum, tin and steel. For example, the shell of an old, unusable washing machine is recycled after all usable parts are removed – just like an old car might be. Corrugated cardboard–also recycled—can come from the packaging of many donations that are given to the Mission.
Orvis contributes to the fabric recycling effort at the Mission. The Roanoke Orvis location, the distribution center for the United States and the entire world, donates items that customers return and don’t go back into inventory, said Mike Rigney, Vice President of Operations. It’s a part of Orvis’s effort to keep from adding to the landfill.
“We’d love to encourage other companies to do what Orvis is doing,” said Rigney. “We lead by example. It’s the right thing to do.”
The Mission also recycled 20,000 items of clothing in 2009, according to Clark, giving those to people in need via a voucher program. Applications can be made by shelter guests and others who have housing but no extra money for clothes. Clark said that the Mission is “the clothes closet” for needy Roanoke City Public School students. Teachers who know of students needing clothing can refer them to the Rescue Mission.
Voucher card holders can pick out what they like, Clark said. “It gives them back some respect and dignity.”
Amanda Wharton of Roanoke, a current guest of the Mission, added to her wardrobe by shopping at the Thrift Shop on her voucher card. Wharton picked out job hunting clothes that she can also wear to church, as well as a couple of shirts, and clothes for her 15 year old son.
Participants can shop for clothing along with everyone else in the Thrift Shop from Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., except on Friday, when the closing time is 4 p.m.
Clark said that if more people were aware of the recycling program they might donate additional items to the Mission. Food is recycled there as well: leftovers from events or food close to the expiration date can be donated and used to feed guests at the Mission. Farmers can donate extra produce. Kroger and Fresh Market also supply unsold food.
Clark says they get a variety of unique and “much appreciated” food donations and told of one family who gave the fresh fruit and vegetables from a wedding reception’s centerpieces to the Mission. You can call to arrange food donations ahead of time or just drop them by. Call 343-7227, to schedule or inquire about volunteering.
By Joan Kastner [email protected]
