In early November, Planet Aid’s Cleveland office entered a new stage of clothing collection, placing a donation centers at Albert’s Fresh Market (formerly Sparkle Grocery Store).
It was the right move at the right moment. The beloved store has been a staple in Grafton, Ohio since 1979. Original property owner, David Wilhelm, became an early partner with Planet Aid, and agreed to place one bin on the lot back in 2001. The commitment ultimately led to a total of four donation bins over the span of 22 years and a long-lasting partnership serving the Grafton community.
This year, Wilhelm sold the real estate to Ralph Pence, a well-respected local business person who was born and raised in Ohio. He immediately began renovating the property. When Pence decided to resurface the parking lot, Planet Aid Territory Manager Randy Miller suggested they swap the yellow bins for the new state-of-the-art, 24-hour monitored donation center. Pence was delighted to make the switch and host one of the first donation centers in Ohio.
Planet Aid donation centers are the latest innovation in textile reuse and recycling, helping to keep used clothes and shoes out of landfills at no cost to the community. The donation centers’ lighting and 24-hour video monitoring are solar-powered and provide safety and security for donors. They are made from refurbished shipping containers and are designed to be weather and tamper resistant.
The donation center and surrounding area are regularly serviced and cleaned by Planet Aid's experienced team to ensure a welcoming environment and positive experience for all donors.
These new donation centers provide a convenient and responsible way for Ohio residents to donate used clothes and shoes to be reused and recycled instead of being dumped in landfills.
The Grafton area residents' response has been tremendous, with nearly 1,500 lbs. of textiles collected in the first weekend. What a win!
Both the new and former property owners were impressed with how the unit elevated the property,. More importanly, the ownership looks forward to supporting Planet Aid's mission to make a difference for people and the planet, for many years to come.
A second donation center was placed at Flag City Station in Findlay, Ohio.