Petworth Peanuts Mother’s Day Free Sale
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Anonymous
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Did you get some great stuff or was your experience a shit show?
I was very excited when I learned about this event, thinking it was such a great concept! And it being Mother’s Day weekend, expected it’d have a nice warm feel-good vibe even amid some rummaging that might get a little competitive. LOL … I am laughing now thinking that I ever thought that! While I’m sure some people scored some great stuff, gosh I wish I had a partner today to send on my behalf because the scene was like yet another view of moms hustling and doing anything and everything they can. Despite whatever may have been instructed, sooooooo many of the clothes were badly stained, at least in the toddler section. I even came across some with holes. Toys missing pieces or broken. An initially unclear process for getting inside with the tickets which led to frustrated families crowding waiting in line for over an hour. Big camera in your face while you’re rummaging through baby toys because of course you gotta get that good free content of “helping” people without them consenting to being recorded or photographed. I’ll say with one or two encounters as exceptions, most of the volunteers were really nice and just trying to do what they could. There was even a volunteer in the books section who asked people for things they’re looking for and hand-curated selections out of the big piles—that was cool to see. But when I left, I couldn’t help but feel bleak thinking about neighbors dumping things far from “gently used” to a MOTHER’S DAY event probably feeling good about it thinking about the “poor” people who might take it anyway. That and the couple of condescending volunteers really soured the day. It’s still a good idea but needs some tweaks! |
Anonymous
| You're complaining about getting free things? |
Anonymous
Poor people are allowed to want things that aren’t broken and stained. |
Anonymous
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People have hugely varying definitions of “gently used” and some people just refuse to throw anything away.
Nonprofits that take donations are mostly in the trash business. Throwing things away is just the cost of getting donations. But in a neighborhood swap, if you throw away 50% of the donations, people will notice and care. The book curating volunteer had the right idea. Focus on surfacing the good items. Have a policy of trashing what’s left. I don’t know about the petworth one but this sort of thing isn’t usually framed as charity for “the poor,” it’s just a big swap of hand me downs. But of course, you don’t have to donate to “shop” and that’s great. |
Anonymous
| Sounds like you’re signing up to volunteer next year! |
Anonymous
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It would be really cool to organize some kind of neighborhood-wide textile recycling effort as part of events like this or some other way to manage textile waste. I know a lot of clothes are blends so probably hard to actually recycle though. I find that sort of thing hard to manage as just my single household but would be interested if part of a group initiative and could also use some education on it to understand what’s feasible and actually makes a difference.
I agree some people really don’t want to deal with being the ones to throw things away. I also think it can feel crappy on the other side, that your neighbor would pass on would-be trash. |
Anonymous
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wasn't there but think eh that's what hand me downs look like...
i don't live in petworth and wouldn't consider myself poor but get a ton of colthes/toys/books from buy nothing and pass a lot on and they're often missing some parts/have some stains/holes... i don't see harm- my kid is about to lose a part, make a hole or stain anyway |
Anonymous
| OP I have no idea what you're talking about, but it sounds like some organization put on a clothing give away for the less fortunate and the quality of the items was not to your standards? |
Anonymous
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I went this weekend and had a great experience. I got ~25 shirts/pants/onsies for the next suze up for my baby so I'm ready to go when he hits his next growth spurt.
Not sure how you heard about the event, but I am a member of the Petworth Peanuts and the emails they sent us leading up to the event encouraged folks who wanted a "calmer experience" to come after 2 pm. I highly recommend you come later if you go next year. I got there around 2:30 and it was very calm. It was easy to go through clothes and put aside what was in too poor condition in my opinion (maybe 10% of what I went through). Sure, I probably missed out on some stuff by going later but there was still TONS of clothes to go through and even some strollers, carseats, high chairs, and toys left. |
Anonymous
THIS, x1 million! |
Anonymous
Yes but I think the complaint is that OP, who is unlikely to be “poor”, can’t handle sorting through things not up to their standards. I’ve gone through and picked out items from similar events or even friends and then gotten them on my child only to notice stains then. It’s not an exact science. If OP isn’t emotionally capable of sorting through clothes, a free sale is not for them. |
Anonymous
Haven't you ever heard the saying, "beggars can't be choosers?" |