We recycle - I'm pretty sure everyone does these days... cause ya know if you don't you are a target for the recycling nazis. We're not rabid recyclers...but we do our bit. Every spring and fall - I go through the lil one's clothes and mine.... sorting out what doesn't fit .. what isn't going to be worn .... and bag them. In the past we would drag these bags to second hand thrift shops - but GAH!! it took forever to schedule a drop off - even before the pandemic! And the bags would sit for weeks at the back door. Occasionally we would have a family we could pass along the lil one's clothes to... cause ya know kids out grow their clothes seasonally. BUT it was a hazzle.. and I was tempted - more often than not - to just toss them in the garbage. (yeah yeah I know - BAD BAD BAD!!)
Then in 2019 we got notification that our city was doing a "I Give a Shirt" campaign. The principal was simple......... fill up a garbage bag with gently used clothing, label it and on the scheduled day put it out with your garbage. The city would come around and collect all the bags and take them to charities / second hand stores for distribution. In return we got a sticker "I give a shirt" to put on our recycling bin.
WOW! great idea and so much easier for us. We put our first bag out in 2019. Last year - despite the pandemic - our city ran the campaign again..... and we put another bag out. Yesterday they announced this year's campaign. Apparently last year they collected 27,000 pounds - yes 27,000 pounds! - of clothing. Next week is the collection date.......... and because of the huge participation they are going to run another pick up in October. It boggles the mind ya know?!
I started cleaning out cupboards this morning....... this bag is just MY clothing - stuff that is dated or I just never really liked.
Next I'm moving to the lil one's room...........
Last night when we were snuggled in bed - Sir Steve asked what my plans were for today - I told him sorting out my clothes, the lil one's clothes ... and mumbled "and your clothes". He said to do mine and the lil one's but leave his alone. le sigh. I'm hoping I can get him to at least take a look at the cupboard full of his clothes and go through his drawers of clothes and maybe part with some??!! He isn't even that interested in replacing the old clothes with new clothes. Is that a man thing?? cause I mean seriously - who doesn't want to buy new clothes?? In my experience - M.E.N.
Life is good when I can sort and donate and have tidier cupboards!
I think BIKSS has learnt that in order to move ON WITH LIFE he has to let some of the old stuff go and be fitted with new stuff that actually FIT. Also, changing jobs means he needs a tweak in the wardrobe dept. Ahem ahem. Good thing has has me to show him the ropes. He's a right fashionista these days. Purple argyle socks and everything.
ReplyDeleteAnd hurray for donations and recycling. you KNOW i approve of this stuff! High-five. I'm glad you're in the club!
Fondles I admit when it comes to clothing I feel good about sorting and donating.. knowing it will go to folks who need it.
Deleteas for Sir Steve - we have purchased a few new outfits for work/play - it's just getting him to give up the old stuff :)
That is great! I wish our town would do something like this. How convenient. I need to get rid of tons of clothes, I have to decide where to take them - many of our 'charitable' places have CEO's who are millionaires with salaries to match, so I don't want to take them there. It would be so nice if someone came and got them. Good luck getting Sir Steve's participation.
ReplyDeleteI'll let you know after the weekend PK whether Sir Steve participates (grinning) though on the large scale of things - it's really not that important
DeleteGosh I wish our area would do that! I mean, it isn't like it is hard for me to take the clothing to the Sally Ann or whichever...or even schedule a pick up from the local charity...but that is an AMAZING thing for the town to do!
ReplyDeleteDon't get me started on men...I once threw out a belt of his that was almost warn through (and I already had a replacement for it) and the fight that ensued! Now, I don't touch his stuff. It is up to him. Should I mention he has 3 times the amount of clothes that I have???
Boo
LOL well I have to confess I was looking to buy a pair of white pants for the summer - but in clearing out my cupboard I found a brand new pair in the back -it still had the tags on it!!!
DeleteI am very impressed with this town - how community spirited they are! IF anyone needs a helping hand they rally 'round - goodness when the community hospital puts out a request for funds for (latest request) equipment for preemie babies they got more than needed!!
how on earth do people find new things? I want a surprise too! But i'm so impatient the minute i get a new piece i've got it washed and dried and ready to wear!
DeleteI don't know about sir Steve but when I have clothes that I like, I like to keep wearing them until they are worn to death and no one would want them second hand. Perhaps it's a guy thing
ReplyDeletePrefectdt
yup I am resigned to the fact this is a guy thing... though we've had good fun discussing my blog and the comments - Sir Steve says "I'm poking the bear" (sweet angelic smile)
DeleteYour town is very community oriented. I have a girl friend who lives there and prior to Covid she was always posting things it was doing.
ReplyDeleteLol to Sir Steve. I was once trying to clean out B's closet because he's constantly complaining that our house has too much stuff it in, and I pulled out this thin, shiny type white dress shirt with stripes. I suggested we toss it.. " But that's a great shirt!" Was his reply ( he hadn't worn it since I knew him). I said, " oh suuuure- for 1978!". It went to The Sally Ann! Lol
willie
it went to the Sally Ann and you lived to tell about it!! WOW !! LOL Sir Steve read my blog - read the comments and said "YOU are poking the bear!"
Deletewho me??! (sweet innocent smile) would *I* poke the bear??
Lol re: the Sally Ann. Actually our neighborhood one is very nice- we have embassies around here- they have silent actions. But for donations, they have an exterior box. Lol
DeleteThere is a Chinese proverb we use all the time - copied off the net :
ReplyDelete"旧的不去，新的不来
usually used to console someone who has just lost something -
literally translated it means - If the old one doesn't go, the new one will not come.
It also means you cant move forward if you cling on to old notions.
:)
How about suggesting to Sir Steve that he give you just 3 things? or 2? or 1? LOL. Baby steps... you know?
Hi Morningstar,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful initiative on the part of the city! So very convenient for you too. The charities all say they want this stuff donated but dont necessarily make it that easy. Hope Sir Steve joins in :)
Hugs
Roz
Such a great idea! I wish we had that here. I have a pile of boxes for Value Village but they are closed and not accepting donations. Our city's giveaway day has been postponed too. We usually have 3 a year.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Hermione