The rollout of the new Pink Bag Project worries one local charity that depends on community donations

By Christy Nadalin
Posted 11/13/18

"More than a third of our budget comes from our thrift shop sales, mostly clothes," said Nicki Tyska, Director of the East Bay Food Pantry (EBFP). "That's almost $60,000 a year."The food pantry takes …

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The rollout of the new Pink Bag Project worries one local charity that depends on community donations

Posted

"More than a third of our budget comes from our thrift shop sales, mostly clothes," said Nicki Tyska, Director of the East Bay Food Pantry (EBFP). "That's almost $60,000 a year."

The food pantry takes that $60,000 and combines it with its other revenue streams to purchase food that it then distributed to needy families in the East Bay. Ms. Tyska isn't denying it: this new Pink Bag Project that is launching in Bristol has her more than a little nervous about its potential to disrupt a major source of the EBFP's income.

While Ms. Tyska commends the Town Council, and particularly Councilor Mary Parella, for their efforts to reduce the amount of trash that goes to the landfill, she is worried.

"When we learned of the Pink Bag Project, what immediately came to mind was that it will affect our donations here," said Ms. Tyska. "In order to donate to us, people need to come to the shop and drop it off, during hours when we are open. These pink bags are going to be easy for people, they can just leave them outside the door. We don't have the capability to do that."

Effective Oct. 29, Bristol joined Simple Recycling’s nationwide movement to reduce the amount and weight of trash taking up space in America’s landfills — including more than 14 million tons of clothing. The pink bags that were mailed to Bristol residents lat week can be put out with the normal trash; they will be collected by Simple Recycling and all items will be assessed and redistributed to either second-hand stores, markets overseas or reprocessed.

“It reduces the number of heavy items that end up in the waste stream, ultimately reducing the tonnage that is taken to the Central Landfill and dumped at a tipping fee of $47 per ton,” said Ms. Parella.

All Town Council members were on board with the program, which is free for the community to join. After waiting several months for a distribution center in Taunton, Mass., to be completed, they’re more than ready to get it underway and start seeing results in Bristol.

“I think this is a fantastic initiative; it’s a way of being greener and saving tax dollars, so it’s a win-win,” said Vice Chairman Timothy Sweeney.

Ms. Parella did encourage those who already donate items to local organizations to maintain those established relationships moving forward.

For their part, the EBFP is trying to take steps to make their donation process more convenient. "We will be doing neighborhood drives," said Ms. Tyska. "We have a truck, we have door hangers. We realize the competition that we have."

Ms. Tyska also notes that EBFP is mindful of keeping items out of the landfill, donating items they cannot sell to Planet Aid.

She would like to get the message out to all their donors, and potential donors: please keep the EBFP in mind when cleaning out your closets; donations are converted dollar-for-dollar into food to help needy families in your own neighborhood.

"I understand that it (the Pink Bag Project) saves the town money by keeping items out of the landfill and I appreciate that," said Ms. Tyska. "But donations have a huge impact on our bottom line. They keep our doors open and our pantry stocked."

To shop, donate, or volunteer with the East Bay Food Pantry thrift shop, located at 532 Wood St., Bristol, please call 401/396-9490 or visit eastbayfoodpantry.org.

East Bay Food Pantry

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