LWers tackle household clutter, support rehabilitation through Salvation Army

DONATION EVENT

by Emma DiMaggio

Communications Manager

Leisure World residents tackled household clutter with the help of The Salvation Army on Sept. 25. For four hours, residents carried clothing, furniture and household goods to one of six trucks stationed around Leisure World in support of the nonprofit’s mission.

After all was said and done, The Salvation Army had collected six full truckloads of donations, described as “excellent” by Salvation Army Donations Development Manager Atticus Firey. The donations will be sold in thrift stores and the proceeds will fund the organization’s adult rehabilitation centers in Anaheim, Long Beach and Santa Monica.

“The event went off without a hitch,” said GRF Director Mike Banfield, who helped coordinate the event. “The drivers and helpers were courteous and helpful, and the shareholders were vocally appreciative and expressed a desire to continue doing these events in the future.”

Banfield gave special thanks to the resident volunteers who helped collect donations, Service Maintenance and Security personnel who assisted with the event, and fellow GRF Director Nick Massetti for providing the initial spark that set the project in motion.

The event was organized in response to expensive disposal costs at the 1.8-acre site. In an average month, the community fills five roll-out bins, which are emptied at a cost of $700 each. Diverting items to nonprofits like The Salvation Army is just one way to reduce disposal costs and save shareholders money.

Residents transport a couch and vacuum cleaner to one of the six donation trucks stationed around Leisure World on Sept. 25.Paul Kryczko