New Hampshire Business Review, October 4, 2012
The old adage that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure has certainly rung true for tens of thousands of people in the Caribbean and Latin America who are the recipients of donated items processed by the Concord-based Institution Recycling Network and distributed by Food for the Poor.
Since 2002, more than 25 million pounds of furnishings have been distributed through the IRN-Food For The Poor partnership, according to Mark Lennon of IRN.
“All of these furnishings are in usable condition. They come from schools, companies, and hospitals across the country,” said Lennon. “It is a huge waste of resources to throw away furniture and equipment that can still be used.”
These usable goods were donated through IRN to Food For The Poor, an international relief and development organization. Dorm room beds, dressers, and night tables, plus desks and other furnishings from educational, health care and other organizations have been refurbished and put to use by a new generation of students and families.
“When we see couches that once filled the lobbies of college campuses, now fill the lobbies of orphanages in Guyana; and when families who received Food For The Poor houses in Jamaica also get to furnish their new homes with twin beds and dorm-room dressers, we are truly humbled by the generosity of our donors.” said Angel Aloma, executive director of Food For The Poor.
The partnership began a decade ago. Since then, more than 1,650 container loads of residential, classroom, and medical furnishings have been sourced by IRN and distributed throughout Food For The Poor’s projects in the Caribbean Basin. In addition to Guyana and Jamaica, major recipients of school and other furnishings include El Salvador and Haiti.