Moncton Headstart Recycles' yard sales are a simple way to help all facets of the community, as well as the environment

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Moncton Headstart Recycles is holding another Yard Sale on June 28. Tables, chairs, beds, kitchen-ware, appliances, they have it all, and all in a good cause.

"We set aside unique or special items for our yard sales," explains general manager Marc Belliveau. "There's always interesting items coming in, and people are starting to know they can find anything from collectibles to electronics.

"The sales are four times a year, and are an important way for us to raise money so our store can stay open to help people."

MHR began as a Moncton Headstart initiative some 15 years ago, but has become an independent, self-funded, registered charitable organization. Located at 84 Barker Street, it is now a six-day-a-week operation and a vital part of Moncton's social support system.

Moncton Headstart Recycles provides inexpensive or free items from toys to mattresses, to people in need by recycling unwanted but perfectly serviceable donations.

"If you don't have use for an item yourself, it might be perfect for some one else," says Marc. "Our cube van is usually filled three or four times a day. Or you can bring some items here to us yourself."

The items for sale come from all over the Greater Moncton area and beyond, donated by people who are moving, downsizing, or redecorating.

"Everything in the store is for sale, to cover our costs," says Marc, "but we give things away if there is a need. Some days we give away more than we sell. People down on their luck, victims of abuse, or of disasters like fires, and even people new to the country, can all come to us and find something they can afford to get their lives started again."

Not only do people in need benefit from MHR, but so does the environment. Marc estimates that his operation annually diverts upwards of 100 tractor-trailer loads of material from land-fill sites or being dumped at the side of the road somewhere.

According to two different household moving companies, the average tractor-trailer holds from 25,000 to 30,000 pounds. Even taking the low figure, this means that some two and a half million pounds of goods per year stay out of dump sites because they're being affordably offered to people who need them.

Sadly, MHR has recently been having problems with vandalism and theft, losses amounting to thousands of dollars in the last two months.

"As a self-funding agency, this means we can help people less," says Marc. "If some of these people need things they could just come in and talk to us instead of breaking in and stealing."

Moncton Headstart Recycles helps people who have things to give away by taking items off their hands. They help people in need by providing things that they can afford. And they help the environment by keeping tons of items out of our landfills. All without government funding. Buy something at their yard sale at 84 Barker Street on June 28 to support them.

"Without the donation of items and money from businesses and citizens in Greater Moncton, it would be impossible to keep our doors open," says Marc.