Reusing on a Grand Scale
by: Frances MasonGreen Team leader for the St. Francis Care for Creation team
The annual Fall Festival at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Blairsville, GA is a giant exercise in reusing resources. Arguably the largest yard sale in Union County, the event is made up of nine venues, all stocked with previously owned items donated by parishioners and their friends. Venues include white elephant, electronics, lamps/pictures, lawn/garden, clothing, books, jewelry, crafts/holiday decor, and silent auction. Two additional venues, baked goods and a food court offer all or some donated items.
From early July through late September, parishioners work for three hours every Tuesday collecting, sorting, and pricing donated items. During the last week in September they spend the week setting up tents and tables and stocking each venue with the collected items.
The last Friday in September, community members begin lining up an hour before the doors open to get first choice of the various wares for sale. All day Friday and Saturday shoppers can be seen carrying out bags and boxes full of their newfound treasures. At the end of the Festival, left-over items are donated to area thrift stores. During all three phases of the festival - collecting, selling, and cleaning-up - the St. Francis Care for Creation team encourages recycling of paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans by providing designated recycling stations, sorting and transporting collected recyclables. This year, 73% of the bottles sold and 74% of the cans sold were recycled.
The Festival requires a huge investment in time and effort, which parishioners are willing to invest in order to reap the benefits. Primary benefits are providing additional income to help support the parish, fostering camaraderie among parishioners, offering community members needed items at a much discounted price, and preventing unwanted items from ending up in the landfill.
Plan to visit Blairsville, GA the last weekend in September and come to the Saint Francis of Assisi Fall Festival!
