Citizens from the Ward and beyond had a chance to swap what they no longer needed for something they did during the St. Patrick’s Day Stuff Swap at Tytler Public School.
“This is a collaborative venture with Two Rivers Neighbourhood Group and the Guelph Tool Library,” said organizer and Guelph Tool Library volunteer Susan Carey. “The whole idea is very equalizing.”
People were encouraged to bring clothing, toys, books, art supplies, tools, hardware, kitchen appliances and utensils and anything else they no longer needed and swap it for something they needed.
“We’ve all got too much stuff,” said Carey. “It doesn’t matter how poor you are, as long as you aren’t actually living on the street you’ve got too much stuff. It’s the nature of our society. So, instead of going out and buying come here and check out what your neighbours have and are willing to share with you.”
The swap also provided an opportunity for members of the Two Rivers Community Group, the Guelph Tool Library and others to show the public the ongoing goods and services they offer.
“The Tool Library has around 500 items and some of them are quite large,” said Carey. “We’ve got a couple rotor tillers, a couple cider presses, some big portable saws. We have shop vacs galore. We have everything for pressure nailing – compressors and all that.”
The tools are available at no cost to Guelph Tool Library members and they have regular workshops to show people how to use them.
“On Thursdays I operate a drop in sewing program,” said Guelph Tool Library facilitator Stephanie Clarke. “Anyone from the community whether they are a tool library member or not can come in and use our sewing supplies and our space to work on sewing projects.”
They also have workshops for skills such as carpentry and gardening.
“The workshops the garden coordinator and I have been doing are centred around using the tools of the tool library for food production, food preservation and fixing or making something new,” said Clarke.
The Creation Station, a program associated with the Two Rivers Neighbourhood Group provides materials and training for students, budding artists and anyone seeking a creative outlet.
“Art should be accessible to anyone that needs it because we know that there are therapeutic benefits,” said Creation Station volunteer Jerushia Allin. “We know it is good for overall mental health and well being. Also it helps people engage with other people reducing social isolation.”
Creation Station founder and coordinator Shera Mekhail is a trained artist and certified educator.
“Basically you can come and use any art supplies we have for free,” said Mekhail. “You can take them home, bring them to your classroom or community program. We’ve helped run art camps from supplies that we have here. We can support with ideas for using materials that may not necessarily look like art materials but need to be out of landfill and used in other ways.”
For more information about upcoming events, programs and other services offered by the Two Rivers Neighbourhood Group and The Guelph Tool Library drop by Tytler Public School at 131 Ontario St. or visit their websites here and here.
