Bargain Box?s new drop-off box to protect donations from the elements

The Bargain Box, the Jefferson County Health Center Auxiliary?s resale shop, has a new drop-off box at its front door along East Burlington Avenue.

?We felt it would be more convenient for people dropping off donations after our hours,? said Deb Bartholomew, the store manager.

Before the drop-off box was set at the store?s entrance, people would often leave donations at the store?s back door.

?If it rained or snowed, everything would get wet, and I?d have to throw it away,? Bartholomew said. ?People would go through what was left there and slew it all over. We just felt it was time.?

The Fairfield Lumber Yard donated the new drop-off box ? the materials to build it and the paint to paint it ? and Jefferson County Health Center maintenance department employees painted it.

?The donation of the box is very much appreciated,? said Bartholomew.

The drop box has been put to good use since it was installed about two months ago, according to Bartholomew.

Donors are welcome to drop their donations, bundled in bags or boxes, into the top of the box.

Bartholomew said anything The Bargain Box accepts can be left in the drop box: clothes, books, knickknacks and more. But, the resale store does not accept TVs, computers, baby car seats and large items. If an item is questionable, call 472-3548 for information.

The drop box is emptied every day. A door on the side is unlocked and opened to gain access to the donations, which are loaded into a cart and taken into the store.

Bartholomew hopes the drop box will encourage people to donate their no-longer used items to The Bargain Box because the more items that are donated, the more selection available for customers.

Plus, proceeds from The Bargain Box and the auxiliary?s Gift Shop in the health center are used to provide scholarships for recent and non-recent high school graduates who are continuing their education in the medical field, and to purchase items for the local hospital, such as the patient-lift systems in each patient room.

The Bargain Box is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.