BEDFORD’S SWAP AND DONATE DAY

Save the date and jot down the location: the Law Offices of Brown and Brown, 100 The Great Road. Several nonprofits will be collecting items, including Mission of Deeds, Bikes Not Bombs and Lexrap, with more organizations to follow.  A toy swap will also be part of the event.  It is time to start looking over your closets and basements.  Why not donate to people in need and save that useful stuff from being incinerated or needlessly going to the landfill?

Mission of Deeds gives gently used home goods and furniture to low income individuals and families living in Middlesex and Essex counties.  Clients include: the previously homeless, mothers and children leaving battered women’s shelters, displaced veterans, refugees and victims of fire and other disasters. Everything is given free of charge.  Since its inception in 1993, the organization has helped over 10,000 families.

Swap and Donate Day will focus on collecting these priority items for them:  Towels, full/queen sheets, blankets and comforters; twin blankets and comforters, pots and pans and small kitchen appliances in good working order.  A complete list of items needed is available on their website, missionofdeeds.org.  We will not be able to accept large items such as furniture or large household appliances. The Reading based organization does pick up furniture donations in surrounding towns. Their phone number is 781-944-9797.

Each year, Bikes Not Bombs collects and reclaims roughly 6000 used bicycles from Greater Boston and New England communities. They use the bicycle as a vehicle for social change, creating local and global programs that provide skill development, jobs, and sustainable transportation.  Further, the program  mobilizes youth to become leaders in their communities.   They will also collect used parts at the May 5th event.  “Last year, almost 50 bicycles were donated in Bedford, according to event coordinator,” Frances Bigda-Peyton.  “We are hoping for a repeat of that number and even going beyond it.  It was a fun activity.”  Their website is bikesnotbombs.org.

Lexington based, Lexrap (lexrap.org) helps refugees, asylum seeks and unaccompanied minors find a stable life in our community.  Laptops are needed that are in good working order, with charging cords.   If donors have not removed personal information, Lexrap has volunteers who will delete user’s profiles and files.  When donated, it is important to be sure a password isn’t needed to sign into the computer.  PCs should have at least Windows 7 or above to be useable.  Specifications for laptops are available on their website, including how to identify what version of Windows is on the computer. Mac laptops should be in good working order and not be more than 3-4 years old.

Swap and Donate Day is sponsored by Transition Town Bedford and the DPW in cooperation with other town wide organizations, including Mothers Out Front.  For more information, including help with volunteering, contact Frances at [email protected]com.