With about 100 people in attendance and $1,800 raised, the Island Green Building Association’s Saturday, Jan. 26, anniversary event was a smashing success. The event, dubbed “20,000 Thanks,” celebrated the one-year anniversary of the non-profit’s ReSource Depot and 20,000 pounds of new and gently used building and home materials kept out of local landfills.
A wide range of event-goers came out for good food, good drinks and good company. IGBA welcomed those who’d shopped at the depot before as well as those who’d never been to the depot, along with a representative from the V.I. Water and Power Authority and visitors from the V.I. Waste Management Authority’s Susannaberg Transfer Station, located just across the street from the depot.
Big-ticket items, including a dishwasher and sliding doors, were sold at highly discounted prices, and prizes, including a tumbling composter, were raffled off.
“People didn’t just drop in; they stayed,” said IGBA Executive Director Barry Devine. “They had something to eat, they talked, and we met a lot of people we hadn’t met before. The overall feeling was that people are happy to have a group like IGBA on the island.”
By the time the event took place, the actual number of waste kept out of local landfills had risen to 25,000 pounds or about 13 tons.
“That’s like 10 dump trucks that have been kept from going in to the dump,” said Devine. “It’s encouraging, and the board walked away from the event with a renewed energy.”
The ReSource Depot, located at Gifft Hill and Centerline Roads, is open for donations and purchases from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Thursdays, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
For more information on IGBA, visit www.igbavi.org or follow the group on Facebook.
Raffle winners: composter: Joyce Hrebeck; $50 certificate: Erik: last name unknown, (incorrect phone number given); $50 certificate: Linda Bechstein; polo shirt: Debra Ramsey; canvas bag: Jean [last name unknown] of Beaverton, Oregon, (phone number given has been disconnected); WAPA T-shirt: Gail Siart
To claim a prize, contact Barry Devine at 514-3532.