ARLINGTON Last Friday, we had five little bags, said Lana Lasley, as she looked at the largely empty collection room for Helping Hands in Arlington. This room is usually full, clear to the ceiling.
The volunteers of Arlingtons 26-year thrift store have seen their donations take a serious downturn in recent weeks and they attribute it to a collection bin for Value Village in the Thrifty Food Pavilion parking lot, which they say has drawn donations away from them and the local community.
Value Village is the biggest thrift store in the world, and were competing with them now, Lasley said. Ive had to ask two people not to come to work. We tend to get so much that we cant sort through it all in one shift, but now, were done in half an hour.
Lasley and fellow Helping Hands volunteer Shirley Cochinelia both wondered aloud why Value Village, which is based in Seattle and Spokane and has store locations throughout Washington state, would choose to place a collection bin two blocks away from Helping Hands in Arlington.
Weve heard that its more convenient for people to drop off their donations there, Lasley said. We were asked why we didnt have our own bin, but we couldnt afford one. Every penny that we bring in, we donate right back to the community. Wed have to purchase not only a bin, but also a vehicle that could transport it down the hill to us.
Arlington Mayor Margaret Larson hopes to help Helping Hands solve that problem. After Lasley contacted Larson about their decline in donations, Larson not only met with the management of Thriftys, but has also spoken with Kurt Patterson, the citys facilities maintenance supervisor, about the possibility of getting Helping Hands their own collection bin on that street corner.
Helping Hands is important to this community, Larson said. It has a long history in Arlington and its outgrown both of the facilities its had. People were dumping their things on the corner of the Food Pavilion parking lot anyway, so Kurt is looking into prices and types of bins. Were not exactly sure what this will entail yet, but if that corner is taking business away from Helping Hands, we need to work on that.
Larson cited Helping Hands history of supporting programs ranging from scholarships to shoes for those in need, and deemed the group an essential part of the full-service city of Arlington.
My husband and his mother worked with Helping Hands, Larson said. It and the food bank are vital, not just to our city, but our community. Were helping them help us.