The theme of this year’s Earth Day is “Restore our Earth™.” Here at Adelante, not only do we care about the planet — buying energy efficient appliances, recycling what we can, and upgrading our lighting to save electricity — many of our operations celebrate Earth Day 365 days a year!
GiveABQ
When you donate your gently used furniture and housewares to GiveABQ, you’re keeping it out of the landfill, and giving it to a central location where multiple nonprofits can put it to good use, for their own organizations or the people they support. We currently work with 87 local nonprofits and many of those organizations are helping people experiencing or coming out of homelessness. In just a few months last fall, GiveABQ helped over 40 families get furniture for their new apartments and homes. This helps create a more stable environment where people feel at home. Of course, re-using furniture is good for our home planet, too. Want to donate? Yes, we pickup. Just complete the form at: GiveABQ.org
Desert Harvest Food Rescue
In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. This is based on USDA estimates of 31 percent food loss at the retail and consumer levels. (source: usda.gov) This is particularly concerning in New Mexico, where 1 in 3 New Mexican children are currently facing food insecurity. This program began as a volunteer opportunity for people with disabilities in 2001, and has expanded to over 120,000 pounds of food every month. Volunteers trained in safe food handling pick up food from grocers and restaurants around town and deliver them directly to nonprofits around the Albuquerque metro area that directly support people experiencing hunger.
Many organizations only collect canned and shelf stable food. Desert Harvest is different. We collect prepared surplus food from restaurants as well as shelf stable and perishable food from grocery stores. Without Desert Harvest all this food would likely end up in the trash. Instead, thanks to coordination from the team at Adelante, it is helping people in need. Due to the pandemic, people with disabilities are not currently volunteering, but we hope one day they will be back to doing so. Adelante appreciates all of the food donors that make this program possible. Learn more at https://goadelante.org/community-resources/hunger-initiatives/desert-harvest-home/
Back in Use
Many people need durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches to live an independent and fulfilling life. The tough part is that these items can be expensive. Worse, many insurance companies don’t cover them or not in a timely way. Adelante’s Back in Use program takes in durable medical equipment and gives it away to seniors and people with disabilities who need it. This re-use is good for the planet. In addition, these items are often sitting in spare bedrooms and garages, and it is great to see them get to people who need them today. If you have wheelchairs, walkers, or other durable medical you are no longer using, consider donating it to Back in Use. All in all, Back in Use has saved our community over a million dollars and has provided much needed items to local people. You can schedule a donation using this form.
DiverseIT
E-waste has become a major problem. DiverseIT’s business model is a “triple win” for the community. First, we keep e-waste out of the landfill by taking in donations of computers. Second, DiverseIT provides training and jobs for people with disabilities who refurbish computers and are working on IT certifications. Third, refurbished computers are donated to people in need so they can attend school, work remotely, or communicate with their family and friends. Learn more at DiverseIT.org.
Document Destruction Services
Adelante Document Destruction Services handles paper shredding for thousands of customers across New Mexico. The good news is that we recycle that paper and make sure it gets back to paper mills so it can be used again. This kind of effort saves trees that can take years to grow, in addition to the water and energy involved in that process. Plus, Adelante sorts the paper so the mills can use it more easily. By dividing our paper into sorted office pack (pastels, manila folders) and a brown-grade mix (darker and glossy items), the paper requires less processing. That pulp can become paper again, or paper towels, tissue, brown paper sacks, or other recyclable paper products.
Want us to handle your shredding? We do that for local businesses big and small. We do curb-side service for households, too. Just visit us in downtown Albuquerque. (1618 1st St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102) We are open Monday through Friday, including Earth Day. Also, working with us helps support our nonprofit mission.
Bargain Square Thrift Store
It may be surprising, but over 11 million pounds of textiles end up in landfills on an annual basis. To help reduce some of this waste, consider donating clothing that no longer fits your and your children, or is not your style, to Adelante Bargain Square. In addition, consider shopping at our thrift store when you are looking for something new to wear. We have new items every day and keep thousands of items from ending up in the dump every day. If we can each work on re-using clothing that is already made and in circulation, there is less impact on the planet from producing more. And, when you donate or shop with Bargain Square, you are helping provide jobs for people with disabilities.
Donate by dropping items off at the back of our store. We accept clothing, housewares, linens, books, electronics, and pretty much anything that is in good enough condition to sell. We are located just north of Belen at 19554 NM-314 (Belen, NM 87002). If you want to donate larger items like furniture, we do pick up. Just call the store at (505)923-4250 to make arrangements. Earth Day at Bargain Square is every day. Yes, we are open 7 days a week.
See? Adelante really does work to be eco-friendly on an ongoing basis. Thank you for supporting our efforts, on behalf of our clients and the planet.
