More than Junk in the Trunk at local event
It should’ve been called Treasures in the Trunk Sale.
The popular Junk in the Trunk Sale hosted by REAPS on Saturday is a spring and fall event held at CN Centre’s parking lot.
Many of those who attended the 14th event looked pretty happy holding a variety of items in their hands, in reusable bags and one woman had a wagon filled with goodies.
And it’s not just the 2,000 or so people who came to buy that were happy. The event has become so popular that registration to be a vendor saw all 125 spots filled a month ago.
Despite the bracing wind, the treasures and trinkets, clothing, furniture and tools were bought and sold at lightning speeds.
Suzanne Driedger from Vanderhoof walked along checking out all the items on display, pulling her wagon filled with shiny treasures behind her.
“Knowing that I keep these items out of the trash and find them a new home or repurpose them in some way if I have to, that’s what it’s all about,” Driedger said.
Driedger is the ultimate recycler, reuser and repurposer and she’s been doing it for years.
She got to be such a good collector of found items she decided to upcycle her passion into a business and is the proud owner of House of Hope, located in the heart of downtown Vanderhoof.
“I knew that I couldn’t keep all the cool things I’d found so I started with a small shop,” Driedger said. Soon her passion grew.
Moving from her modest 200 square foot space to her leased 1800 square foot store six months ago she is now able to share her restoring and refurbishing knowledge with others who are likeminded.
“So people can make things or if they have a treasure they feel needs some re-loving they can come to my shop and they get to use my classroom space to do that,” Driedger said.
Over in the gravel parking lot at CN Centre was a giant trailer where recyclers were not charging to accept tires, including rims, old appliances, including refrigerators and freezers and batteries.
“So you’re able to drop off your large appliances for free,” Terri McClymont, executive director of the Recycling & Environmental Action Planning Society (REAPS), said.
At about 11 a.m., they’d already had to switch out a full trailer with an empty one because so many people took the opportunity to drop off their bigger recyclables before heading over to see what they could find at the biggest garage sale in Prince George.
“We’re hoping to continue that program next spring with more stewardship programs on board,” McClymont said.
“So things like electronics, paint, household hazardous waste, a lot of those things will be recycled at the Junk in the Trunk Sale.
“Everything can be disposed of in Prince George. It’s just nice having a one-stop shop, especially with no charge for those recyclables that need freon removal.”