In December 2010, Clean Tahoe launched a project that would see the household furniture found in our daily mission that was still usable, refurbished and recycled back in to the community to the clients of our crisis agencies, assisting families, particularly women and children, who have been placed in new living situations after completing programs with the South Lake Tahoe Women’s Center (SLTWC), Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Family Resource Center (FRC) and Sierra Recovery Center (SRC). The Clean Tahoe Board of Directors are in full support of this project and have agreed that the Clean Tahoe Program will donate its services in the execution and administration.
Who and How Many Will Benefit?
The “Dinner Table Project” seeks to benefit the women who have turned to the local agencies for intervention, treatment programs, help with domestic violence issues, assault, child abuse and simple, basic needs. Approximately 75 – 100 adult and children victims are helped through the Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter Program through the Women’s Center each year, and roughly 50 at Sierra Recovery. While the above-mentioned agencies and others provide vital assistance to families in the form of help with rehabilitation, job skills training, child care, housing searches and moving into living quarters, agency assistance ends when the keys are handed over and their clients are then left to set up their household and begin again. The proposed project will assist those families in a way that does not currently exist and will extend existing outreach a little further.
“The Dinner Table Project” has the potential to help many families in transition with a potential long-term benefit to the community being two-fold. We are creating a green and sustainable program by reusing unwanted furniture discarded by the community and given a new life. Further, in giving a helping hand to one of our own, they may thrive and recover and then turn around and do the same sometime in the future for another person in a similar situation. We are creating a stronger community, by helping each other through difficult times.
In addition, by recycling the furniture back in to the community, money is saved in dumping fees, space is saved in the landfills, furniture gets a second life, and the person in need benefits. It is a win-win! Additional outreach for reusable furniture to be donated to the project directly from residents, realtors, vacation rentals will also be implemented thereby ensuring the success of the project.
The Project officially launched in December 2010. The Project was recently notified that it will receive a $2,000 grant from the Soroptimist International. This will also ensure the success of the project as there are warehouse rent and gasoline expense for deliveries and pick ups of donated furniture. Further, funds are needed for materials and tools to repair furniture.
Do you have a piece of household furniture that you would like to donate? We have a few guidelines:
1. Donated furniture must be in good shape. A small tear in the upholstery is okay, but items with rips larger than 2″ will not be accepted.
2. If donating electronics, please also bring all of the cords and be sure they are in working condition.
3. Please, never leave anything in front of the warehouse if we are not open and available to receive it. Appointments are required.
4. Receipts for your donation are available, please be sure to leave your mailing address so we may forward one to you.
If you would like to assist us in the cleaning and repair of furniture, contact us via phone (530) 544-4210 or send an e-mail: cleantahoe@sbcglobal.net
