Over 400 vehicles drop off donations to the Salvation Army

GOLDEN AGE FOUNDATION

Golden Age Foundation (GAF) volunteers collected donations of unwanted, gentlyused goods from 429 vehicles for the Salvation Army on Aug. 9.

For five hours, GAF volunteers worked alongside the Salvation Army staff in the Amphitheater parking lot at a steady pace outside to fill three trucks before the day ended. One truck was filled before noon and had to drop off the donations at the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center and return later in the day to be filled up again.

The Salvation Army sent five workers to partner alongside 12 GAF volunteers to unload donated items from cars and into containers and trucks. Most cars had an average of 5-7 bags of items. Donated items included small furniture, kitchen and house appliances, golf clubs, love seats, living room sets, TVs, luggage, a steam cleaner, men’s suits with hangers, shoes, CDs, books, women’s handbags, many new and old vacuum cleaners, comforters, small desks and miscellaneous items.

In the future, the GAF asks the community to be patient with the 6-7 volunteers and workers who collect donations during the event as it takes time to unload items with care. People are also encouraged to drop off items in the afternoon after 1 p.m. to help with wait time.

This program, dubbed “Salvation Saturdays,” brings Salvation Army donation trucks into Leisure World every other month, providing a convenient and cost-effective way for residents to rid themselves of unwanted items.

In addition to giving residents a convenient venue to drop off donations, the program also saves money by cutting down on haul-away costs for items that were previously dispo- -sed at the 1.8-Acre site. Donations will support the Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers located across Southern California.

The Salvation Army project is under the stewardship of the GAF and is held bimonthly on the second Saturday. The next service will be on Oct. 11.

The GAF thanks volunteers Anna Derby, Rosemarie Da Roza, Dave Forney, Harry Varnas, Charlie Dunn, Lisa Brass, Jennifer Shin, Carol Ostergarrd, Faye, Tonette Kadrmas and Karen Whittham, for their hard work greeting, lifting, and moving items during the event. The GAF also would like to thank those who donated tips.

The Salvation Army accepts donations of clean, gently used, salable household items including clothing, bedding, linens, kitchenware, small appliances and electronics, toys, sporting goods, books, art, home decor and small and medium-sized furniture.

For more information, call Geneva Potepan at 951-6754271 or email mom4rascal@aol.com.