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ShareFest has evolved since then to scheduled pickups of items and is not limited to just Miami students. Any Oxford resident wishing to donate items they no longer need can go online to schedule a pickup.
This year’s effort collected an estimated 173,230 pounds of donations, or 87 tons, an increase of 12 percent over a year earlier when donations totaling 77 tons were collected.
The donations supported the work of seven area agencies that collect items to directly serve clients or sell the items to raise money to help them, according to Carol Michael, president of the ShareFest board of directors.
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Recipient agencies for this year were:
- Butler County and Preble County Success
- Butler County Children Services
- The Family Resource Center
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati
- Lighthouse Food Pantry
- Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries
- Oxford Community Choice Pantry
Michael said there were many stories shared by people who benefited from ShareFest, including this one submitted by Chrissy Rolfes, a ShareFest 2017 planning committee member.
“Because of ShareFest, I was able to assist two families who essentially were starting over. Each family received beds and other furniture items in addition to household items. Three additional families received needed items. All families were very grateful,” Rolfes wrote. “The one that stands out though, is the 6-year-old who had been sleeping on the floor. When the bed frame and mattress were brought into his home, I told him that it was for him. He was beaming. Then, I gave him a comforter/sheet set. He said, ‘Is this for me?’ I said yes. He said, ‘I am so happy.’ He thanked me several times before I left.”
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