FARMINGTON — At Everyone’s Resource Depot a host of supplies awaited anyone wishing to make Valentine’s Day cards.
Valentine’s Day cards could made at Everyone’s Resource Depot this week. Seen looking through some of the items available to use is ERD board member Amy Palmer. (Livermore Falls Advertiser photo by Pam Harnden)
A box filled with red envelopes, ribbon, doilies, felt, pipe cleaners, tissue paper and other papers sat on one end of the large table in the back room of the Depot. Bags filled with buttons and medicine bottle tops lay nearby.
Depot coordinator Mary Ryan said there were a lot of people making Valentines on Saturday. Monday afternoon things were a bit quieter.
ERD board member Amy Palmer stopped by to update Ryan on her schedule.
One lady came to make a Valentine’s card but didn’t want to have her work published. She used a glue stick to affix sequins to her card after writing a message on it.
Staff member Madison Vigeant sorts crayons at left while ERD co-worker Brooke Carrier holds a Dutch weave heart. Someone showed how to make the hearts during a Valentine’s Day card-making session on Saturday. (Livermore Falls Advertiser photo by Pam Harnden)
ERD staff member Brooke Carrier showed her the Dutch weave hearts someone had made on Saturday.
Carrier is a sophomore majoring in Early Childhood Education.
“One of my professors showed us this place. I can use all the things here. It takes a lot of creativity to figure out what to do with everything,” Carrier said.
Staff member Madison Vigeant is a sophomore majoring in psychology. She first came to the Depot with a friend who also works there.
“It’s fun to take things and reuse them,” she said while sorting crayons.
ERD has lots of crayons donated. Some are given by families whose children have outgrown them.
The best crayons are sorted into packages of 10 and sold for $0.25. “Bad” crayons are used for activities such as the Valentine’s Day card-making.
Room 009 in the Education Center is where the ERD is located. It is accessed by the door near the parking lot on Lincoln Avenue.
The Depot is filled with a variety of items too numerous to count. Most have been donated by businesses or community members.
These salmon-colored paper poppies are an example of things that get reused at ERD. Businesses and community members donate scores of things that are then sold, most for less than a dollar, for craft, school and other projects. (Livermore Falls Advertiser photo by Pam Harnden)
A vase filled with salmon-colored paper poppies draws the eye to the first aisle. Ryan said they were originally used at a wedding reception.
“The bride didn’t want them and said to toss them. A guest brought them here. They’ve been used for various things since then,” Ryan said. “I love them, have some at home.”
Ryan used them in a bouquet at her church recently. One church goer said, “They pop!”
ERD is open Monday-Friday: 3 – 5 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 12 noon. Tours for community groups are available upon request.
ERD coordinator Mary Ryan holds a poster detailing the project that will be offered Saturday. Paper hats will be made during the Children’s Festival at Mt. Blue Campus in Farmington. (Livermore Falls Advertiser photo by Pam Harnden)
ERD will be at the Children’s Festival at Mt. Blue Campus on Feb. 16. Children will use paper plates to make a hat of their choice.
For more information, call 207-778-7150.
pharnden@sunmediagroup.net
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