When the annual August move-out and September move-in happen, tenants have many options for what to do with their extra lawn chair or pair of jeans.
Dropping off unwanted things at donation stations is one such option. The City of Davis sets these up as part of the Apartment Move-Out Waste Reduction Program. The stations serve as a way to reduce the amount of usable material that normally gets sent to the dumpster during the August move-out.
Another alternative is reselling items on Craigslist, or donating or selling to shops in town.
Darci Soiu, manager of the SPCA Thrift Store on Third Street, has worked at the store for 10 years and managed for almost two. The store carries furniture, clothing, books, dishware and other items, all of which are donated by the community. Proceeds go to Families First, Communicare, the Battered Women's Shelter, Salvation Army and the Davis Cold Weather Shelter, as well as Yolo County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Yolo County SPCA).
“We get a lot more stuff, furniture mostly and clothing, during the move-out time,” Soiu said. “It increases sales during that time because we have more stuff.”
But why would some to choose to donate to SPCA over the other options?
“People donate to us because of our cause,” Soiu said. “The donation stations, unfortunately, are a lot of junk. We have a lot better stuff than at donation stations.”
Some managers in town wish those moving would consider selling their items to local establishments.
Kay Ormsbee is systems manager of All Things Right and Relevant, a non-profit consignment store that buys items and uses proceeds to fund mental health programs in the county. She said she doesn’t see much of a difference in inventory during the move-in and out months.
“It’s hard to know if we get more items during this time because don’t know where it’s coming from,” she said. “Also, we have to approve furniture, so we wouldn’t have an influx.”
Still, she said she wants to encourage more college students to donate and sell their leftover clothing and other belongings.
“You can make some money for clothing through consignment,” Ormsbee said. “It’s not the mindset of that age group; Craigslist is where they automatically go to. We have a lot of variety – not junk – and great bargains on designer clothes.”
She said one of the store’s problems is its location at 2801 Spafford Street, outside of the more accessible downtown.
Corey A. DeRoo, co-owner of the secondhand boutique French Cuff Consignment on G Street said there isn't much of a change in the store's sales, or inventory, during this time.
"Our clients are mainly the year-round full-time Davis residents," DeRoo said in an e-mail. "We do receive a huge influx of items just before the holidays (October to December) as folks do clean out their closets for last minute gift money."
Other thrift stores in town include on G Street, L Street Furniture and Hidden Treasures on Olive Drive.
If you're free on Saturday, you could also check out the University Retirement Community's Bizarre Bazaar from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1515 Shasta Drive. Furniture, collectibles, appliances, housewares and more items donated by downsizing URC residents will be up for grabs. Proceeds go to the URC Foundation for residents in need.
