Nothing wasted, plenty gained
I compliment and commend Bonnie Kallenberg on her letter to the editor (EM, Dec. 14, A4) about the thrill of thrifting. While she made many interesting and important points, I’d like to add a little information about how we recycle in the Briar Patch.
At Putnam Christian Outreach, when we have an overload of clothing and household goods, we send them to either Martha’s Closet in Sparta, where they are given away free to anyone in need, or to Inspiritus, a ministry in Stone Mountain where they are given to refugees and homeless people.
Here at PCO, quilters and crafters grab up bargain fabric, yarn and trim for their own needlework projects and any overload items are taken to re:loom, a ministry in Clarkson staffed by immigrants and formerly homeless people who in order to support themselves weave these fabrics into exotic rugs, placemats, dog leashes, and handbags, etc. (reloom.org) As for stained, worn and torn items, no matter how bad their shape, we pack them up and Goodwill pays us for them and resells them to recycling plants. There, they’re broken down into pellets andreworked into new materials for sports bags, filling for pillows,mattresses and stuffed animals, dog beds, insulation and casket lining. (leighfibers.com) And finally, Mothers Against Crime collects used clothing and other items that Georgia Smithuses to hold “free flea markets” with them at various locations in Eatonton.
I’ve never been to Sweden like Bonnie has, and I can’t speak for the entire United States, but I do want to proudly proclaim to the whole world how we recycle here in the Briar Patch.(“Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:12) Susan Larson Proud Briar Patch Recycler