The Knick Knack Nook has tallied the donations made in 2014, and in terms of financial funds dispersed, the total exceeds more than $40,000. However, Nook Board President, Donna Scorer, says what she is really surprised about is the huge number of items that have been distributed to various organizations both on Bowen and in Vancouver.
Sixteen organizations have received goods donated to Bowen Island’s re-use it store including the Aboriginal Mothers’ Centre in Vancouver (71 bags, 2 boxes of women’s and children’s clothing, bedding and books); Books for Me, which gives books to children to keep at home (14 boxes of books); Lookout in the Downtown Eastside, which helps men transitioning from shelters into apartments (132 bags, with 32 boxes of clothing, blankets and books).
“The dispersement of items is overwhelming,” says Scorer. “When people bring things in, we can really only keep a certain amount in the store. Good quality things go up for sale but if they don’t sell, we have to find another way to pass them on and keep them out of the landfill. We have a few volunteers who drive to Vancouver to pass along items to other organizations, but we don’t have nearly enough people doing this work.”
Scorer says that occasionally, Nook staff will recommend that people post items up on the Bowen Island Buy-Sell-Trade Facebook page, or will offer a list of other organizations that would be interested in taking items.
“There was someone around Christmas time who brought in a bike that was in really good condition, and he offered to give it to us,” says Scorer, “But the person also said that if we knew of a family that would benefit, to give it directly to them. That’s what ended up happening.”
Scorer says that she’s hoping a small extension to the Nook store will help reduce the number of trips volunteers are making off-island to donate goods, but ultimately, they need more volunteers and for more people who are donating to be mindful of what their giving away.
“Things need to be clean – and not broken. Sometimes a volunteer will take a piece of clothing home and wash it so it can be re-sold, but we don’t have water. So generally, these items have to go into the garbage. And we have to pay for it.”
Scorer adds that volunteers at the Knick Knack Nook are happy to give out their list of organizations for people to donate to off-island if they are interested.
