Reaping Nature Educational Outreach Foundation, a Forsyth County 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides environmental education programs for children and the public, held the first of two community-recycling events in the Windermere community parking lot on Oct. 14.

“We collected four trash bags of egg cartons, laundry detergent bottles, and “Tupperware” like containers with lids for Meals by Grace,” said Denise Carleton, Reaping Nature’s Executive Director. “Meals by Grace receives cases of eggs, and they need to subdivide them into cartons to give to families they support. They have a dedicated mom who makes big batches of laundry detergent to refill bottles with, and the “Tupperware” like containers are used to put in fruit and other food items the organization receives."

Family Haven, a Forsyth County non-profit that has been providing services to victims of violence and their families since 1989, had their truck at the event to collect items for their thrift store now located on Veteran’s Memorial Highway in Cumming.

“We collected many lovely items at the event,” said Claudia Golden, Family Haven’s Thrift Store Manager. “Some of the clothes collected will benefit our shelter for abused women and their children. Often they flee with only the clothes on their backs.”

Many cellphones were collected for Feed the Hungry Forsyth who is collecting cell phones to help raise money to fund their operation. Loose change was collected to benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Other e-waste, totaling 2,212 lbs., was collected by Premier Surplus, Georgia’s only American-owned family operated R2 certified ISO 14001-2004 electronics recycler. Premier Surplus also sponsored the event and works with Reaping Nature throughout the year.

Reaping Nature’s next community recycling event will take place at The Ice at 1345 Atlanta Highway in Cumming, on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Event items being accepted for recycling and reuse:

• New & gently used coats and blankets (Meals by Grace);
• Clean & empty laundry detergent bottles, egg cartons, and “Tupperware” like containers, with sealable lids (ex. cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream) (Meals by Grace);
• Household items & clothing (Family Haven);
• Cellphones (Feed the Hungry Forsyth);
• New and gently used shoes (ShoeBox Recycling);
• Electronics (TVs $15 to recycle, secure hard drive shredding provided) (Premier Surplus);
• Loose change (benefitting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta).

 For more information, visit Reaping Nature’s website at www.reapingnature.org or email info@reapingnature.com.