Update living space with gently-used furniture
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Looking to update your living space but don’t have a lot of cash to do so? Then consider letting the money you do have go the distance, helping you achieve your desired makeover and help feed the hungry in Aroostook County at the same time.
DECORATING ON A BUDGET is a breeze with the variety found at Catholic Charities, both in Presque Isle and Caribou. At the Presque Isle store these desks serve as display areas for a variety of merchandise, while waiting for a buyer to take them home. Money raised goes to buy food for the food pantry to feed people throughout Aroostook County. 
“Catholic Charities in Caribou and Presque Isle have a great selection of used furniture, with prices to fit any need,” said Dixie Shaw, director of the organization.
Shaw said in addition to the standard use for furnishings, people looking to stretch their money are continually coming up with unique ways to re-use all sorts of items.
“With the whole Pinterest (an online bulletin board system) deal and the popularity of up-cycling that we are in, it is really getting to the point that one man’s trash is another’s treasure,” said Shaw. “And man do I feel like we are sitting on the treasure.”
“We try to have a variety of price ranges. If you need a couch and you have 40 bucks, we’ve got it. If you want a nice couch and you can afford it, we’ve got that too,” she said.
Shaw said she and her staff are continually looking for ways to reuse even slightly damaged items, in order to raise more funds to buy food for those less fortunate in the County.
“We are now pulling ideas such as making a private litter box space for your cat out of an old dresser and putting them up in our store. Pallets are all the rage and we’ve got those too,” Shaw said, noting pallets can be used for all sorts of projects, including one she saw recently that used pallets to create a small shed.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
JEANNA GARDINER, manager of Catholic Charities’ Presque Isle store, arranges lamps and other items on a stand in the furniture section of the business. Donated household items are sold, with money raised going to purchase food for those less fortunate in the County. Gardiner said “repurposing” of discarded housewares, such as using chairs in outdoor gardens to arrange potted plants, has become quite popular, giving old furnishings even more uses. 
Fred Schieber, who works with the food banks, said drop-offs can be made in three locations, with pickups also possible.
“In addition to the Davis Street location in Presque Isle and the Old Van Buren Road location in Caribou, we also accept drop-off donations at the Monticello warehouse at 155 U.S. Route 1,” said Schieber.
Hours of operation and contact info for the three locations are as follows: Caribou, open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., call 496-3243; Presque Isle, open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Wednesday in Monticello.
“People can contact the Caribou or Presque Isle stores to arrange for donation pickups. We accept anything that is not broken or excessively damaged, except for TVs and computer equipment. Basically, it needs to be reusable. We also accept clothing and shoes,” said Schieber.
Schieber said donations are tax deductible and receipts are provided upon request.
He said items vary by store and move quickly, so don’t hesitate when you see something you really like — it might not be there when you go back.
“What is available in the stores really changes on a day-to-day basis. We always have things like used furniture, household appliances, kitchen supplies and hardware,” said Schieber.
“You can also find things as diverse as windows, chicken feeders, sporting equipment and antiques,” said Schieber. “Right now books and seasonal/holiday items are big sellers.”
Schieber agreed with Shaw, noting how lots of people are finding new ways to use old things.
“People do repurpose what they find and often the Internet is a source of inspiration. Some examples of people reusing items include: using old game pieces in scrapbooking, using old dresser drawers for shelves and planters, wooden skis as wall decorations, making doors into work tables, gluing china and glassware together for garden sculptures and bird feeders, and making purses from old hardback books,” said Schieber. “An Internet search under ‘repurposing’ is sure to result in many other ideas.”
Jeanna Gardiner, manager of the Presque Isle store, said each store gets weekly calls for pickups and that donations are steady.
“We get a lot of furniture, building supplies, shoes, clothing. It all goes to buy food and keeps a lot of stuff out of the landfill,” said Gardiner.
She too has seen a lot of neat uses for old items.
“I’ve seen people turn old suitcases into foot stools or put in shelves and mount on a wall. A lot of items get used in gardens. People have used dresser drawers for planting flowers. We see so many cute ideas,” she said.
“We’ve seen folks turn doors into tables and turn shutters into shelves. The ideas are endless,” said Gardiner.
Shaw has been thrilled to see all the ways people have gotten creative with the treasures they find at either store.
“I find it so exciting. I often say to people in our store, ‘Where else could you get this much entertainment for so little and help us feed the County,’” she said.
“It is fun to see the ideas people come up with. We have had people bring us pictures after they redo something,” said Shaw. “It amazes me what folks do with some of the items.”
