Reducing & Reusing

Words by Mike McReynolds, Photos by Ayden Hortt

We covered recycling, the first R of the three R’s, that we can do on a personal level to combat climate change in the last issue of the Commuter. Now let’s explore the other two R’s. First up, REDUCING, the second R, your footprint by sorting out the things that no longer fit you or that you no longer use. Giving someone else a chance to appreciate that piece of clothing, piece of furniture, jewelry, shoes, hat or dishes. You get the idea. Uncluttering your life frees up space for you and what you donate will help raise money for good causes.

Whether you’re still living at home or are already living on your own, you’ve been used to having certain things in your life. You can’t take everything with you when you move out. Weeding through all the stuff in your closet, dressers, books, electronics, and everything else can be overwhelming if you try to do it all at once. Take them one section at a time. Make three boxes, label them “Keep,” “Donate/Sell” or “Trash.” After you have filled or are done with whatever part of sorting, ask either your parents, siblings, or roommates if they want anything or if they have anything they want to add to the donation box. 

You have many choices to take your “Donate” boxes to. Here are the main choices:  Vina Moses in Corvallis, Goodwill (two locations-Corvallis and Albany), The Arc (two locations-Corvallis and Philomath), St. Vincent de Paul in Albany and The Cats Meow in downtown Corvallis.  Each of these places serve different populations.  Vina Moses offers clothing for free to the homeless and for those with limited income.

According to an email from Ashley Ri’chard, Community Resource Coordinator at the Arc of Benton County:

 “When you shop at The Arc Thrift Stores, your purchase does far more than stretch your budget, it strengthens an entire community. Every dollar directly supports programs that empower people with developmental disabilities across Benton and Linn counties. 

These funds help provide life-skills training, job coaching, supported employment, social connection opportunities, and wellness programming that many individuals would not otherwise have access to.

“Our stores are also a gateway to inclusion. Many of the people you see greeting customers, sorting donations, or learning retail skills are gaining meaningful work experience through The Arc’s employment and training programs. Your support creates these hands-on learning opportunities, builds confidence, and helps people develop the skills they need to thrive in the workforce and in the community. Shopping at The Arc is one of the simplest ways to invest in a more accessible and welcoming community for everyone.

Finally, she added, “Beyond programming, our thrift stores are alive with community spirit. Each purchase helps create spaces where people with developmental disabilities can build friendships, strengthen independence, and feel connected. The Arc has been part of this community for 67 years, and our thrift stores remain a vital part of how we sustain our mission of dignity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.”

Similarly, Goodwill’s mission is “to provide vocational opportunities to people with disabilities as well as others with barriers to employment.”

And St. Vincent de Paul’s mission is: “We assist the vulnerable and those in need of consolation, seeking out and utilizing every resource. Being mindful of the sanctity and dignity of all, we know that any charitable work that advances those goals is within the mission of St. Vincent de Paul.”

Determine which one you want to support or which is more convenient or easiest for you to drop off your gently used items. Not every place takes everything. Do your research so you don’t make unnecessary trips.

Reusing, the third R, is probably the most important one. By not buying new, you can help your budget, the causes each place supports and the planet. All of the thrift stores mentioned have everything at a fraction of the retail prices. 

Globally, about 57% of clothing waste goes to landfills, while in the United States, textiles made up 7.7% of all municipal solid waste sent to landfill in 2018. A significant portion of all clothing produced also ends up in landfills or is incinerated, with estimates suggesting 85% of the total fiber input goes to one or the other. In 2018, the U.S. EPA found 11.3 million tons of textiles went to landfills. 

Discover the excitement and thrill of exploring the world of thrifting.  Nothing compares to the feeling you get when finding something that you know is valuable for a fraction of its worth. You can’t believe your luck that someone donated something you always wanted but couldn’t afford. Once this happens, you’re hooked on thrifting. Lucky for you there are plenty of places to quench your inner Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider. 

Goodwill in both Corvallis and Albany,  Heartland Humane Thrift Shop “The Cat’s Meow” in downtown Corvallis and The Arc thrift stores in Corvallis and Philomath offer 50% off depending on the color of the tags featured that week or month. Goodwill changes which color tag is featured every Sunday. The colors are blue, green, purple, red, and yellow and they rotate alphabetically. The Arc and Heartland Humane Thrift Shop change their tag color every month. If you are or have someone you know that is a senior, all three places offer 15% discounts to seniors every Wednesday. 

Once you start thrifting, you start to focus on what you like collecting. It will help you focus your search to look for certain things. It could be cameras, jewelry, hats, records, furniture, art or anything that you have a passion for. The fun part of thrifting is finding something unexpected. If you don’t know the value of what you are looking at, look it up on your phone. There you can check on what the artwork’s worth and check the reviews on any electronics you might find. 

Return policies are different at different places. Goodwill’s policy is you can’t remove the tags and you must have the receipt. Also, you have 30 days to return your item. Same with St. Vincent de Paul. Keeping the receipt is always a good idea. They both have dressing rooms to make sure it fits. This will save you time and money because you only get credit. No cash refunds. The Arc doesn’t take returns.

These are just a few of the places in our area. There are mom and pop thrift stores, antique malls, and flea markets in both Corvallis, Albany, and all the small communities in the central valley. Not to mention all the estate sales, yard and garage sales every weekend. If you don’t want to leave your house there is always Facebook Marketplace and Ebay. 

Supporting all these businesses is a win-win for you and the people and pets you will be helping.