West Hartford real estate agents Janet Tanner and Mary Millican wanted to find a better way for their clients to clean out their homes while moving.
Together, they started Real Estate Agents Recycle, a nonprofit that assists in the proper disposal of unwanted items, as well as facilitating the donation of usable items and furniture to those who might need them.
“Janet was in business for 20 years and constantly saw dumpster, dumpster, dumpster and thought there had to be a better way,” Millican said.” We got a whole bunch of partners to work with us, so that instead of using a dumpster, things go to people in need or are disposed of environmentally.”
The nonprofit will be one of two beneficiaries of a birdhouse auction fundraiser to be held at the Pond House Cafe, on April 10. The other is Community Partners in Action, a nonprofit the Pond House Cafe supports.
Handout
So far, they’ve said that the nonprofit has kept around 50 dumpsters worth of items out of the landfill. Items that aren’t disposed of find their way to those in need through different agencies, including Journey Home and A Hand Up,
Millican said this also helps those who need to downsize, as the process of getting rid of items that have sentimental meaning can be difficult.
“I think we all have way too much stuff. Everybody does,” Millican said. “This is for people who have been in their homes for 25 or 30 years and raised their families there and have a lot of emotional connection to things. When they find out that they have a way for their personal items to be recycled, they feel so much better that it’s not being thrown away.”
People who are buying or selling a home already have enough going on, Millican said, and that the nonprofit can help them effortlessly make these donations.
“They love their things and they grew up with their things, so this way they feel better about parting with them,” Millican said. “Anything in your life that’s a huge change is difficult. To do it in a way that’s kind to the environment and to the person getting rid of their things, and it’s going to someone who needs, it makes the transition much nicer. It’s a nice way to move on.”
Tickets are available online, by visiting reacycle.org. The evening also includes entertainment and food.
