Interview - HELPSY

At House to Home Organizing we are always looking for new resources to help our clients declutter and take back control of their space. We spoke to Rachel at Helpsy about clothing recycling.

For the busy person, what is Helpsy?

HELPSY is the easiest and most convenient way for you to recycle your clothes, shoes and accessories. We have over 1700 collection containers in the Northeast US and are starting at home pickup programs in our footprint.  

What is the organization's origin story, how did it start?

We started about a year ago and are trying to do things differently. Our name comes from the fact that we recently we merged with a company by the name of HELPSY that was formerly an online retailer for sustainable fashion. We want to educate the public about the environmental importance of recycling clothes, along with working with the fashion industry to get used clothes back into the fashion cycle. 

Why is it important to recycle clothing?

85% of our clothes are currently going to landfills when 95% of them can be reused, recycled and upcycled. 10% of landfills are textiles! There are certain frames of mind surrounding clothing end use that we want to change — for instance anything with holes or that's damaged can be given another life, whether they are converted to rags, carpet padding or insulation.

What does it mean to be a host?

You agree to let us keep one of our collection containers on or inside your property. We service it regularly to keep it clean. You do your part to keep clothes out of the trash and it can be a revenue stream for your business or institution.   

Can you share some success stories? 

We were able to give nearly 13,800 winter jackets to New York Cares this winter for home insecure individuals living in the city. We bought the jackets back from our sorting partners. This is a new way of working within our own industry, creates jobs, and supports our industry partners. It is a more effective and efficient than traditional clothing drives. We hope to do more of this large scale buy-back work to help those who need it.

Guest Post - Organization Hacks for a Kid-Friendly Kitchen

Cooking with kids is an excellent way for spending a great family bonding time. It also allows you to teach them about healthy diet and help them overcome being put off by the mere sight of broccoli. Not to mention that it can really be fun. However, kitchens can be a dangerous place with all the sharp objects, electricity, hot stoves, etc. To be able to include the kids in the kitchen, you will need to make some changes in the kitchen organization. Here are some tips that will help you accomplish that.

Deal with the height issues

There are a lot of things kids can’t reach in the kitchen. On the other hand, there are a lot of things kids can reach, but they shouldn’t be able to, especially if they are dangerous. The trick is to make the safe items accessible to them and to store the unsafe items outside their reach. Deal with the safety issues first, and make sure the knives and other sharp objects are stored on the top shelves, or that there is a safety lock on the drawers and shelves where you store them. As for the other part, empty out one of the lower cabinets, and stock it up with kid-friendly items (e.g., plastic bowls, cereals, granola bars, etc.). This way, your kids will be able to prepare their breakfast, snacks, and lunch boxes.

Reorganize your fridge

They will need some milk to prepare a bowl of cereal, right? Create one kid-friendly zone in the refrigerator, which will include containers of milk and yogurt, cheese sticks, vegetables, and fruits. This keeps them from rummaging through the fridge and eating some of the ingredients you have planned to use for meal preparation.

Choose kid-friendly appliances

Small kids shouldn’t be allowed to use the oven or the stove until they reach a certain age, but they can handle some smaller appliances. Equip your kitchen with small KitchenAid appliances, such as stand mixer or food processor, which can be used by children if you previously show them how to handle them. Soon enough, your little ones will enjoy helping you whip the cream for their birthday cake or prepare pesto for the pasta night.

Give them a workstation

Your kids will need some place to work without having to stand on chairs and risking to fall on the floor. Kitchen tables are usually a convenient place for that. Plus, if you move your operations there, your kids will be able to see what are you doing, and learn from you. If this is not an option, you can get an appropriate-sized mini table for them, and fit it into the available corner of the room.

Label things

Cooking with kids and organizing the kitchen afterward can turn out to be quite a mess. A few hours later, you will probably find oregano in the drawer with spoons and knives. To prevent this from happening, you can label things, such as seasoning, flour, etc., and put matching labels on the drawers and cabinets. If your children cannot read yet, you can always use photographs or drawings.

Compartmentalize the drawers

When the kids have trouble finding the things they need in the drawers, it can go two ways: they will interrupt your work process and ask you to get it from them, or they will turn your drawers into the picture of chaos. Neither of these two situations works in your favor. You can fix that by making your drawers more organized with compartments. For this project, you will need nothing more than a few plastic containers. Put a few of them into the drawers and categorize them.

Make it easy to clean

Easy maintenance is vital for kitchens used by the entire family, especially with toddlers and school kids. You need to choose surfaces that are not porous. While natural stone looks beautiful, it is also prone to stains. Quartz countertops could be the best option if low maintenance is your priority. As for the flooring, a high-end solution like hardwood is very durable and resistant to spills and impact. Laminate is a more affordable option with similar features.

Make it easy for kids to clean

Children should be taught to clean after themselves at an early age. But how can they learn to clean after themselves if they can’t even reach the sink? A bathroom stool could mend this problem. Also, the dishwasher is quite easy to use, and with some tips from you, your kids could become your little helpers. You just need to make sure the appliance is installed somewhere between the lower cabinets.

Cooking with your kids doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be turned into a joyful experience, but only if you make your kitchen safe and convenient for them. These hacks will help you accomplish that.

Will Sandford is a Sydney based wood architect, blogger and contributor on interior design and ecology blogs. Besides that, he is also interested in home improvement combined with green technology. In his spare time, Will enjoys surfing and rock climbing. He is also a regular contributor to SmoothDecorator. Connect with him on Twitter.

A New Way to Celebrate

Linda offers insight and suggestions regarding holiday giving.

As Mother’s Day just past and Father’s Day approaching next month, we celebrate the special women and men who influence our lives. These days can be filled with family, flowers and may center around brunch or dinner. However, for some it can be a difficult time. Maybe some have recently lost their mother or father? Maybe they have lost a child? The question always arises as to how to acknowledge the day appropriately for everyone. If thinking of giving a gift, how to give a meaningful one? As with every holiday, we are constantly bombarded by the media as to what gifts to give. For Mother’s Day the media suggests flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, jewelry, a new kitchen appliance, etc… Flowers, although pretty to look at, do not last long, chocolate covered strawberries are delicious but consumed quickly, jewelry is expensive, and who needs a new baking sheet to sit in your cabinet with four others already there!

Being professional organizers, we see many gifts that are given and not used. New mixing bowls in boxes, jewelry never worn, clothes with tags and candles never burnt to name a few. We cannot stress enough the idea of GIVING EXPERIENCES or DONATING TO A CHARITY as opposed to purchasing "stuff". How about a gift card to a restaurant, concert or sporting event? For all you moms out there, wouldn’t a one-hour reflexology foot rub session be glorious?

As a mother of three adult children, this year I received the best gifts yet. A lovely pop-up card from lovepop.com, with a beautiful sentiment inside. The card is from the heart and as a professional organizer I love that it takes up very little space! I can easily save it as a keepsake and unlike real flowers it doesn’t wilt and therefore no need to be tossed!

My other incredible gift was a donation in my name to in International Rescue Committee, rescue.org. The donation is for a newborn baby kit for new moms in Zimbabwe. The kit comes filled with clothing, baby soap, diapers and other newborn necessities. How awesome that we have the ability to help less fortunate moms on the other side of the world using our fingertips!

So when you are planning your next holiday, instead of “stuff” maybe think out of the box. Experiences and charities will make for less clutter in your life, and make for more meaningful and memorable gifts. From House to Home Organizing, we wish you all a relaxing and peaceful Mother’s & Father's Day weekends.

Interview - Filling in the Blanks

House to Home Organizing always encourages our clients focus less on stuff and more on experiences. There are many great organizations in our community to volunteer your time. We spoke with Hannah with Filling in the Blanks to find out more about how to help.

For the busy person, what is Filling in the Blanks?

Filling in the Blanks provides weekend meals to children in need who are eligible for the free or reduced lunch program. This program is available throughout the year, including the summer months. For just $5.25 a weekend, each child is provided with a bag of non-perishable, easy to prepare food items and a fresh piece of fruit.

What is the organization's origin story?

In 2013 Co-Founders Tina Kramer and Shawnee Knight began feeding needy children on the weekend under the nationally known organization Blessings in a Backpack. Shawnee Knight is a passionate chef, community activist, board member, wife and mother. Classically trained at the French Culinary Institute of NYC, starting this work and eventually co-founding FITB allowed her to marry her love of food, community and charity. Tina is a member of the Stamford Food Collaborative, a United Way program, whose mission is to improve access to food, quality of food and sustainability of food for all members of Stamford. She is also a member of the Stamford Public Schools Strategic Planning Advisory Committee, which focuses on ways to improve the educational well being of the district’s students. What began with the Connecticut chapter of Blessings in a Backpack 5 years ago has grown into an organization based on a strong sense of social responsibility to nurture the community’s needy children and inspire others to do the same. In 2014 Filling in the Blanks officially filed for their 501-c3 to be its own independent non-profit, who's mission would be to feed children in their own backyard. Filling in the blanks began with 50 students in one school in Stamford CT and has grown to now serve 825 students weekly across Lower Fairfield County and New York.

What areas of Connecticut do you serve and how does a family that is food insecure get assistance?

FITB currently serves Stamford, Greenwich and Norwalk CT as well as Bedford Hills New York.

FITB reach out to new schools and programs based on their percentage of students on the free and reduced lunch program. From here its at the discretion of school social workers and psychiatrists to determine which students/families are eligible for the program. FITB does not turn away students, we serve schools with numbers as low at 10 students and as high as 115 students weekly.

Can you share a success story (or more if you would like)?

The letter below is a testimonial from our backpack program which is done each holiday season. FITB provides each kid on the program with a brand new backpack filled with toys, clothes, books, food and more.

If someone wants to get involved, what is the best way to get started?
Check our website for volunteer opportunities and upcoming events or email our executive coordinator to see how you can get involved!

Website: fillingintheblanks.org/volunteer

Email: hannahpaddock@fillingintheblanks.org