http://www.vnews.com/lifetimes/14648522-95/sevca-seeks-personal-care-items
SEVCA Seeks Personal Care Items
Maria Kepler, left, and Lucia Kepler shop at the Good Buy Store on Hartford Avenue in White River Junction. Melanie Hammond photograph
Maria Kepler, left, and Lucia Kepler shop at the Good Buy Store on Hartford Avenue in White River Junction. Melanie Hammond photograph
By Aimee Caruso
Valley News Staff Writer
Sunday, December 14, 2014
(Published in print: Sunday, December 14, 2014)
Hartford — This holiday season, Southeastern Vermont Community Action is collecting personal care items for families in need.
“A lot of people think about donating food at this time, but it turns out that one of the biggest unmet needs in our area is actually for baby care and personal care products,” Tonia White, director of SEVCA’s network of Good Buy Thrift Stores, said in a recent news release.
Donations can be dropped off through Dec. 20 at SEVCA’s stores in Hartford, Springfield and Bellows Falls. Diapers, baby formula, shampoo and toothpaste are among the products that are urgently needed.
The items will be distributed by Upper Valley Haven, Springfield Family Center and Our Place Drop-in Center in Bellows Falls. The nonprofits offer groceries, meals and shelter to hundreds of families in crisis every month, but often come up short when it comes to providing the personal care essentials most people take for granted, SEVCA said.
Stephanie Thompson, executive director of the Springfield Family Center, said she can’t keep up with requests for personal care items. Thompson noted that babies and toddlers in day care are required to have diapers and wipes, which puts an incredible strain on the budgets of families with lower incomes.
“These are not luxuries. They are essential to everyone’s health and well-being,” she said. “When we have these items in stock, they just go so fast.”
The thrift stores are located at 676 Hartford Ave. in White River Junction, the Hartford Transfer/Recycling Center on Route 5, 23 Main St . in Springfield, and 45 Rockingham St. in Bellows Falls.
Anyone who donates personal care supplies will receive 10 percent off any purchase at the Good Buy Stores, which sell low-cost clothing, furniture and household goods.
For more information, go to www.sevca.org or call 800-464-9951.
Has anyone else gone into The Good Buy Store and think their prices are outrageous for a thrift store? Everyone I have talked to will not shop there anymore due to their prices and their employees, who are always rude. I think SEVCA is a great thing but they need to revamp their stores and employees. Get people in there that can move items at a decent price. Everything comes in as a donation, there is no reason to have such high prices. Make it easier for people who are in need. I have also watched employees take items for their own use, never even put it out on the floor, I think there should be a policy that employees are not allowed "first dibs", its a shame.
ReplyDeleteAmen! I've had the manage tell me prices are based on what's on Ebay! Because some folks buy and resell it. Are you kidding me? Half the stuff on Ebay doesn't even sell if you look close. But who cares what they do with it. Get the quick turn of cash, get back in the community and stop trying to get rich on donated items. Instead of being a good buy store it maybe come a good-bye store. Agreed, change your leadership. Make it about volume sales after all it's 100 percent income. Unless of course the operating cost are too high. Are they?
ReplyDeleteCall the main office and complain. That woman has managed those shops for years and I do know that they get first dibs. 1-800-464-9951. They will want to hear this from people who shop there.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Not only are the prices outrageous, the stuff smells musty.
ReplyDeleteWorse, SEVCA does not even try to vet the people they fund. Doens't matter if the pooor pooor single mom asknig for a handout has s drug dealer living with her, SEVCA will pay their bills.
I'm just plain boycotting them.