Vivian Olkin Chapel Hill Realtor » Giving

Cleaning Out? Here’s Where to Donate Your Old Stuff…

CrazyViv — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:33:47 +0000

This is the time of year when many of us resolve to clean out and organize – as part of our resolutions – or simply making space for the new things we have received over holidays. If you are getting rid of used items (or unwanted gifts!), consider donating them to one of the local charities in your area.

The following list includes some places you may not have heard of, and ways to donate some things you weren’t sure how to pass along.

Happy Donating!
Vivian aka Crazy Viv

The 911 Cell Bank accepts used cell phones. Use their handy shipping labels that you can print at their website. They pay for shipping.

Dress for Success accepts conservative women’s attire suitable for a job interviews. Find a Dress for Success location near you.

Goodwill accepts clothing, household items, and furniture. Some locations will pick up from your home. Use their Goodwill locator to find your nearest store.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore will take your used appliances 5 years or newer, furniture, and building supplies.

The Lion’s Club collects used eyeglasses. Visit www.lionsclubs.org for how to donate your old glasses and change someone’s life.

Soles4Souls will recycle your gently worn shoes. There are dropoff locations in many areas.

The Vietnam Veterans of America will pick up clothing and small household items. Schedule an appointment online at http://www.scheduleapickup.com.

Giving for the Season

CrazyViv — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:09:31 +0000

This is the time of year that usually brings out the generous spirit in all of us. Most of us want to share with others, but there are so many options that sometimes it’s hard to know which one is the best.

If you live in the Chapel Hill/Durham area, here’s a list of some of my favorites. Maybe you’ll get some ideas for spreading the joy this season.

Toys – Chapel Hill Service League has a Wish Tree set up in University Mall and Carr Mill Mall. Each tree is decorated with bears, each with the gender and age of a child. You are invited to take a bear and purchase an age appropriate toy for that child. Toys can then be returned to the box next to the tree until Christmas Eve. The toys collected support Christmas House – a great place where parents come in and pick out a toy they know their kids will like!

Food – Table.org is an organization here in Chapel Hill that sends backpacks of food home for children who will not have access to good food when school is not in session. They take donations of food and cash – an easy way to share.

Another organization that provides food is the InterFaith Council. The Food Pantry and the Community Kitchen provide emergency food for those in need. Take items to 110 W. Main Street in Carrboro between 9am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

Time – A Helping Hand is a group that serves adults in this area who need someone to run errands, do simple chores, lend a listening ear, and other things that just require time. Sometimes, time is the very best gift of all.

Clothing – Dress for Success outfits women in clothes appropriate for job hunting. Drop off clean, professional items and accessories on hangers at Keller Williams, 1516 East Franklin Street. Kayla’s closet takes donations of fancy dresses for girls who may not have a chance to go to their school prom. Take prom, debutante and bridesmaids dresses and other formal accessories to Kayla’s Closet, 921 Morreene Road in Durham.

Welcome Baby provides free children’s clothes for families in need with children ages birth to 5 years old. Clean children’s clothing, sizes preemie – 8. They also take maternity clothes. Welcome Baby is at the Durham County Center, NC Cooperative Extension, 721 Foster Street in Durham. Right now they have an urgent need for winter clothing.

Books - Book Harvest collects new and gently used children’s books and places them in the hands and homes of children who need them. There are several places to drop off books. See the list here.

Stocking Stuffers – The Interfaith Council needs toiletries and other items you probably have on hand. Visit the site and see the toiletries list. Freedom House Recovery Center also collect toiletries, and they need bed linens, too.

Image courtesy of mysza831 and Flickr

Buy Local!

CrazyViv — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:47:22 +0000

Buy local. You’ve seen it on bumper stickers, read it on blogs, heard it on the radio. Most of the time when we think “Buy Local”, we’re thinking about food. But as “Black Friday” approaches, what about thinking “Buy Local” for all those on your gift list?

Instead of heading to the big box store or a big.com site, consider these local gifts that those on your gift list will love, plus you’ll be helping the local economy and the environment.

1. Gym membership. A friend of mine just asked for – and got – ten sessions with a private trainer. (Can’t decide if I’m jealous or not…)

2. Rounds of golf. Or maybe a gift certificate to the restaurant in the golf club.

3. Home maintenance certificates. Heating and air places sell HVAC ‘tune-ups’.

4. A load of firewood.

5. Salon certificates. These are available for haircuts, manicures and pedicures. For men – barbers offer these, too!

6. Massages.

7. Restaurant certificates. Buy from a favorite – or a new adventure! Think about special places for brunch, too.

8. Car services. Consider washes and detailing, oil changes and other maintenance. Do it yourself or pay the local garage or car salon to do this.

9. Yard work. Lawn mowing, gutter cleaning, or special spring aereating.

10. Season tickets. Maybe the Symphony, Playmakers, or a sporting event.

11. Movie passes. These are LOVED by teenagers and college students.

12. Pay for a Spring cleaning!

Of course, this list doesn’t scratch the surface. I’m sure you can think of many more. What are your best gift ideas from local vendors and merchants? Do you have a favorite place to buy locally made items? Tell me about it, and I’ll pass your comments along!

“Yes You Can” Food Drive for TABLE

CrazyViv — Tue, 04 May 2010 18:12:56 +0000

Did you know that 1 in 4 Chapel Hill / Carrboro elementary school children (over 950 kids) are hungry or at risk of being hungry right on weekends and holidays when free school breakfast and lunch are not available?
TABLE is a local non-profit, organization that places food directly into the hands of those children by putting easy-to-eat, healthy food into weekend backpacks for them.

ON MAY 13TH, TABLE & KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY ARE HOLDING
A “YES YOU CAN” FOOD DRIVE

The following foods are being collected:
Canned tuna and chicken | Peanut Butter and Jelly Jars
Canned Carrots, Corn, and Green Beans & Fruit Cups | Crackers (Regular, Graham, Animal, Cheese)
Non-Refrigerated Chocolate Milk Boxes (available at Sam’s and Costco) / Juice Boxes

Drop your food off on or before May 13th at
Keller Williams, 1516 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
or at TABLE, 205 West Weaver Street, Carrboro

You know that food is near and dear to my heart. And it’s distressing to me to know that children in my own neighborhood are going without food. Please join me in this effort!

Thanks for your help!

Vivian AKA Crazy Viv

PS Please provide regular sized canned items that are not yet expired. No glass please.
Items can’t be too heavy for the children to carry in their TABLE backpack. Tax deductible monetary donations and your loose change are also gladly accepted. TABLE, Inc. EIN: 26-1471735. Join us for TABLE’S OPEN HOUSE on Thursday, May 13th, 2010 at their office at 205 W. Weaver Street in Carrboro. Learn more about TABLE and what they do at www.TABLENC.org. Please don’t hesitate to call or email me for more information about this food drive. Thanks so much for your participation!