To the editor:
Informative series on the donation boxes for the clothing and books. I have been on the board for a not-for-profit organization and many on our team were volunteers. Value Village and other companies who pay for clothing by the pound play an essential part in our community to provide real dollars supplementing non profits during a time of dwindling government grants.
This money is needed to supply services such as food banks, relocation, housing and counselling. The "feel good" factor may dwindle when one realizes that the bag of clothing left for "char-ity" on the front porch or in a drop box will be sold for profit in a big box store but it shouldn't deter people from continuing to do so.
Many charities simply do not have the resources to pick up donated goods and deliver them to the recipient directly. One can be assured, though, that the revenue a legitimate charity receives from "for profit" companies like Value Village will be put to use for programs in our community that otherwise would not be able to exist. This symbiotic relationship serves us all well and lessens the load on our landfills.
Morry Gaerber, Vancouver
