Throughout the brief history of the Vintage Ventures column, our focus has been on shopping local consignment, thrift and vintage stores in order to reduce waste, support small business owners and spark new hobbies among those who get a thrill out of rummaging through pre-owned goods on a Saturday afternoon. In addition to helping shoppers, movers can also take solace in saving themselves a trip to the landfill by utilizing convenient services to take care of gently used goods no longer needed.
I recently moved apartments and discovered how convenient these services could be firsthand – in fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the helpful staff and ease of transferring furniture and home décor into the arms of those in need. Although the Triad hosts a handful of locations that provide high quality, pre-owned goods at an affordable price that benefit the environment and local economy, this month’s focus will be less about shopping and more about helping those in need.
While dumping old items in one fell swoop at a landfill may seem like an easier option than searching around for consignment or donation opportunities, don’t underestimate the Triad’s more environmentally friendly and stressfree alternatives. Below are two handy and helpful community resources for those seeking an outlet for re-homing their once-loved furniture, décor and more.
Winston-Salem Rescue Mission
As listed on the organization’s website, the goal of Winston-Salem Rescue Mission is “Helping our hurting neighbors find hope and healing through the transforming gospel of Jesus Chris.” At first glance, the average reader may not assume that WS Rescue Mission is a tool for reducing waste; however, the organization makes it impressively simple for those looking to downsize or donate goods to utilize their pickup service.
By scheduling a handy pickup online, users can list the type of item(s) they are looking to donate (furniture, appliances, miscellaneous items and clothing) and even upload photos before submitting the request to give the WS Rescue Mission team an idea of what to expect. As long as items adhere to Rescue Mission’s condition policies, donations are picked up and accepted at your convenience and can even be claimed as federal tax deductions due to the organization’s status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Those who prefer dropping off donations in person can take acceptable items to 715 N. Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, and between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Visit Winston-Salem’s Rescue Mission online at wsrescue.org to learn more.
The Habitat for Humanity ReStores
I selected Habitat for Humanity ReStore as my donation option of choice in order to re-home a queen sized bedframe and headboard, dresser, old mirror and a few more items I no longer needed for my new apartment. My sister and I loaded the deconstructed bed and other items into a pickup truck, pulled up to the dropoff station at the Habitat Forsyth Restore donation center at 2551 Peters Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem and watched a small team of employees quickly unload the truck and take the items into the warehouse. In fewer than 10 minutes, my sister and I were free of a truckload of used furniture and were on our merry way after a hectic day of heavy lifting.
As explained on the website, “The Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances to the public at 25%-75% off the retail price.” Additionally, all proceeds help build or improve local homes and homes around the world, in addition to reducing the use of landfills. In fact, it diverts 200 tons of household materials from landfills annually.
Read more about ReStores in Winston-Salem and Kernersville at habitatforsyth.org. Drop off goods Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, or request a pickup online.
