‘Recycle for a Reason’ honoring God’s call

For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm...—Isaiah 25:4

The marquee over the entryway outside The United Methodist Church of Chugiak says “All Are Welcome.” From what I have experienced with their Recycle for a Reason (R4R) program, I agree wholeheartedly. Aside from welcoming all to their Sunday services, the doors to UMCC open wide twice each month to accept donated household items, then to distribute those goods to people in need and organizations who serve them.

I first heard about Recycle for a Reason from Lynn Elliott, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who volunteers for the program. In fact, I don’t think there is a time I have talked with Lynn in the past year that she has not brought up R4R. The mission of the program is to care for those in need by providing a place to donate and distribute usable household items.

After Eagle River’s thrift store closed in 2013, there wasn’t a convenient place to take used household items and clothing. Lamps, furniture and bags of clothes piled up outside the few donation bins in town. Now R4R draws volunteers and donors from the Valley and Anchorage who converge at UMCC to reduce landfill waste and support its mission to care for those in need.

Volunteers accept and sort donations the last and first Saturday each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Distribution events are held the second weekend each month on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

When individuals come to shop on distribution days, they peruse a large selection of household items, small appliances, toys, books, furniture, tools, sporting goods and clothes. Each shopper selects what they need and pays what they can. A sign at the entrance to the filled Community Center says “Name Your Price—Make it fair and reasonable.”

I have helped several people navigate the complexities of social services during times of financial, health or other crises, and few of those experiences felt “fair and reasonable.” How inspiring to see each person treated with respect and kindness.

Those who cannot afford to pay anything for their items are encouraged to meet their needs, and, for each child, choose an item they want. I was happy to see a nice 4-foot-long stuffed alligator headed home with a family getting school clothes and other much-needed items.

Those who can afford to pay more help support the mission. A volunteer board manages the funds, and donates all net profits as grants to organizations who do good. Beneficiaries of the program are primarily from Anchorage, Palmer, Wasilla, Chugiak and Eagle River. However, both goods and money have been distributed throughout Alaska, and to several national and international projects.

A list of over 95 organizations that have benefited from donated goods or grants through R4R and a calendar of collection and distribution dates and a list of disallowed donations are available at umcchugiak.org. R4R does not accept large appliances, mattresses, computers or tube TVs.

At the end of the two-day distribution event each month, all leftover goods are donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters. The Community Center empties and the cycle begins anew in two weeks.

There is a certain relief I feel after simplifying my home and ridding it of things we no longer need or use. I don’t have the patience or desire to list each item on Facebook or Craigslist and follow up with the people who want it. I enjoyed a sense of peace at the prospect that my donations would do some good in my community. But I recently recognized with gratitude another service that R4R provides. Sometimes we have to decide what to do with belongings left behind by loved ones who have passed away. While we are instructed not to place our hearts upon the things of the world, those things remind us of cherished people and relationships. R4R provides an opportunity to make those things useful again while benefiting other service organizations.

When I called Kay Abrams, one of the coordinators of Recycle for a Reason, she told me about the volunteers of diverse faith backgrounds who get together each month to make the program work. Methodist, Baptist, Jewish, Catholic, Evangelical, Latter-day Saint, and non-denominational Christians have all worked side by side. “The fact that all these people are working together in what they believe is a God-inspired project shows that the Kingdom of God can indeed be here on earth,” according to Abrams.

Abrams is not aware of any other programs like R4R, but would be happy to share program specifics with any organization hoping to set up something similar elsewhere. God’s call to serve the poor and offer relief to the needy rings through every faith community. With Recycle for a Reason, all are welcome to join together and heed the call.

Amity Condie has lived in Palmer for 13 years and is a volunteer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.