Dear Editor:
It was with disappointment and anger that my wife and I read your article about the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre Flea Market in your April 29 issue. We expect better reporting from the North Shore News.
Flea markets like those held by West Vancouver United Church, Highlands United Church and the West Vancouver Seniors’ Activity Centre are the ultimate in recycling. They help people dispose of unwanted items, make usable items available to others at a bargain price, provide donations to various charities and reduce the amount going to the landfill.
We, along with more than 300 other volunteers, average age over 75, worked more than 7,000 hours in two weeks collecting, sorting, grading and preparing for our flea market.
It is said that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Sometimes this is true but other times it is just junk. The flea market has many values. It provides a social setting for people to work together for a common cause. It helps people get rid of things they no longer need without sending them to the landfill. The proceeds help pay for programs and equipment at the seniors centre.
At the end of the sale, as much as possible is donated to various charities, but even they will not take items that are broken, worn out or unserviceable. They have to go to the landfill.
Our recycling efforts are getting better. This year we recycled all remaining fabrics, clothing (including shoes and purses), books, electrical items, cardboard and metal. Each year the amount we send to landfill is less.
Perhaps Mr. Wall would like to volunteer at next year’s sale. We start collections on April 10, 2017.
Bob Clark
West Vancouver
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