We have recently started working with another partner in Northeast Ohio. We are proud to now be partnered with the Food Pantry of First Congregational Church of Akron.

Since June of 2018, we’ve partnered with the Food Pantry of First Congregational Church of Akron to provide much-needed pots, pans and other kitchenware to people experiencing food scarcity. The church has been doing very great work to help the people in need the most. In 2018 alone, the church’s team of over 100 volunteers served fresh food, meat and staples – the equivalent of 100,600 meals — to income-eligible community members.

Donations of pots and pans in good condition make it easier for those they serve to make nutritious meals at home with family and loved ones. The Food Pantry of First Congregational Church of Akron was a huge addition to our partners here at Recycle Pots and Pans, and we couldn’t be more excited to see what the future holds with this very generous organization.

Best,

Recycling Pots and Pans

Recycling Pots and Pans has given so many blessings to so many people and families. People drop off kitchen supplies and any silverware they have left over to help people in need. Then volunteers at the organization go through what’s given to them and decide what can be given to the needy and what can be given to thrift stores. This organization has given families a chance to feel together again. The pans and pots go to the homeless and families in need. They give the opportunity to let a family sit down and have a meal together. Many poor families don’t get a chance to have a meal together because they don’t have enough room, supplies, or even a table. Recycling Pots and Pans gives families that chance to be a family again. They give them supplies to cook with, silverware to eat with, and plates to put their food on. Then a family can sit down together and reconnect. 

It’s so important to be with your family, especially as the holiday season is approaching. This is the time of the year when families put away the drama and negativity and come together to be happy and at peace. I know being with my whole family is the best moments of my life. Every family event or dinner I look forward to. I’m the happiest when I sit down with everyone and we just talk about life and how grateful we are to have each other. No one should be alone during the holidays or have limitations to resources that provide a meal to a family. Recycling Pots and Pans gives people their family back. Now, kids can help their parents cook a meal because they finally have supplies to do so. Just simple things like this make a huge difference. No, this will not solve all the problems for families in need, but it gives them a start, a little bit of happiness and hope can go such a long way.

From my experience helping out at Recycling Pots and Pans I’ve learned so much. To never take anything for granted, to be so appreciative for what you have. Yes, sometimes life is a struggle and I think that it couldn’t get worse than it is right now. But that’s not the truth, so many people and families have it so much worse than I do. Recycling Pots and Pans made me value my life and family so much more than I did before. The people who work there are so generous and giving it truly warmed my heart to be able to work with them. Giving back to the community and the less fortunate is such an important thing to do. Anyone can do it, its not hard or complex. Just take a small amount of time out of your day to go through things you have that you could get rid of. Because something not so important to you, could make a huge difference to someone in need. Being able to give back made me feel better as a person. Helping people is truly one of the best feelings in the world. Recycling Pots and Pans is such a generous organization that helps so many people. Maybe take some time today to stop by and drop off a few things, you could be making someone’s life a lot better.

Happy Holidays, 

Savannah Quinn

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year, when we share good food with family and friends around the table celebrating the bounty of Ohio farmers. But this is also a time of year when many families face challenges of hunger and lack the simple kitchen tools required to make a family meal.

Recycle Pots and Pans was established on the belief that families who eat together stay together. Over the past 8 years we have collected and redistributed cookware free of charge to  families in need. Together with your help we have collected over 8 tons, 15,000 pounds of kitchenware for distribution through 37 social service organizations in addition directly to families themselves.

Currently in Ohio, one in six families experience food insecurity and while the Food Banks are doing a great job in providing food to those in need we know that recipients often lack the tools they need to prepare and enjoy that food. Your donation of pot, pans, plates, spoons, forks and knives help us close that gap. Thank you.

During this season of Thanksgiving I am grateful for all you have done for the benefit of those less fortunate in our community And I am calling on you for a gift to help others. Your contribution, in any amount, will help in the daily operations of this volunteer-driven service organization. You can donate here by mailing to Recycle Pots and Pans at 632 Temple Ave, Kent, Ohio 44240.

Thank you for standing beside me in this worthy effort. Wishing you peace and love this holiday season.

In service,

Abbe

Abbe Turner

It has been a quiet winter, but now we are ready for summer!

We are excited to announce our summer drop off dates for summer 2019! This summer we will be at the following farmers markets to collect pots, pans, dishes, utensils, etc. from you!

-July 20 (Saturday) @ Countryside Food and Farms Howe Meadow Market
-July 27 (Saturday) @ Stow Community Farmers Market
-August 11 (Sunday) @ Countryside Food and Farms Public Market

Unfamiliar with our drop off events? Here’s the scoop! Take time now or in the next month(s) to sort through kitchen items you no longer use or need. Pack them up in a box or bag. Grab a friend, head to one of these dates at the market specified above, don’t forget your box! Find us near the entrance of the market set up with our Recycle Pots and Pans tent and let us take the items off your hands in exchange for a tax deductible receipt!

Need a hand? Let us know! We will have volunteers on-site to help carry boxes and bags from your car into ours!

Where does it go from here? Check out our partner profile page at recyclepotsandpans.com/partners and see the list of organizations we work with!

Can’t make it to one of these dates but still want to make a donation? We accept donations 24/7 (yes, really!) at 632 Temple Ave, Kent, OH 44240. On the side of our building we have a red awning that you can leave donations at any time. Don’t have a car or time to make it to us? Contact us via email (recyclepotsandpans@gmail.com) or phone (3307154140) and set up a pick up!

Hope to see you there!

We have recently started working with another partner in Northeast Ohio. We are proud to now be partnered with the Nehemiah Partners of Sandusky.

The Nehemiah Center works to Encourage, Empower, and Educate children in the Sandusky, OH area to reach their full potential. They provide a safe and engaging environment for the children in their community to grow. Using a faith based approach, they offer educational services as well as activities, mentoring, and guidance to promote the well being of these children.

Thanks to one of their kitchen volunteers who linked our two organizations up, we were able to get them a couple new items to use for their after school meal program. The center had previously been using scorched pans which often burned the food for the children. Now they have new pans to provide even better meals for the kids they serve!

For more information, check out the new partner profile listing here, or check out the Nehemiah Partners of Sandusky website here.

Children at Nehemiah Center with New Pot

Children at Nehemiah Center with New Pot 2

We just wanted to thank everyone who attended and donated their kitchen items at the Summer Drop Offs we held this summer! In six drop offs, we were able to collect 2,092 POUNDS of donated kitchen items!! This is 2,092 pounds of items that might have ended up in landfills (or at least collecting dust in your kitchen or basement!) that will now be able to go back into our community to help those in need be able to share a meal at home with their families.

A very special thank you to the markets and market managers to helped make this possible by allowing us to show up to their markets and have these Drop Off events. This year we were fortunate to have been able to work with Erin and Serena at Countryside Conservancy at Howe Meadow and Highland Square, Andrew at Haymaker Farmers’ Market, Gary at Stow Community Farmers Market, and Terri and Lori at Main Street Wadsworth Farmers Market.

We have been fortunate enough to have had a lot of help both at the markets and back in Kent by volunteers to help load up, unload, sort, put away, break down boxes, and clean up. Those volunteers are crucial to making sure that these types of events can exist!

We have also been fortunate to work with our partners a lot this summer to keep everything moving. Almost as fast as things have been coming in during this busy summer, they have been helping us to move them out!

Howe Meadow Drop Off 5/5/18

Stow Drop Off 7/28/18

Howe Meadow Drop Off 8/4/18

Haymaker Drop Off 6/16/18

Wadsworth Drop Off 9/8/18

Highland Square Drop Off 7/28/18

Thank you to everyone who came out in the rain to drop off at our collection this Saturday at the Main Street Wadsworth Farmers Market!

Our last event was our largest haul this summer! We were able to collect over 512 pounds of kitchen items!!

Wadsworth Drop Off 9/8/18

This is it! Our last scheduled drop off event for the 2018 Summer Farmers Market season!

We will be at Main Street Wadsworth Farmers Market on September 8th from 9-12 to collect kitchen item donations! These folks put on a beautiful market in Downtown Wadsworth.

Not familiar with how our drop off events work? Here’s how it goes: You grab your friends, sort through your old, used, kitchenware, and bring it to the market in boxes or bags. You find us at the market, we will have volunteers on site to help carry boxes or bags from your cars to ours. You drop off your donated items, collect your tax deductible receipt, if desired, and shop the market!

Thank you for all your support in our summer drop offs! Be on the lookout for more next summer!

Interested in having us come to your event or market for a drop off event? Shoot us an email at recyclepotsandpans@gmail.com to set something up at a winter market or for the 2019 summer season!

Thank you to everyone who came out to our last Drop Off Event with Countryside Conservancy for this year!

We polished the day off with 340+ pounds of donated kitchen items!

Look for us at our FINAL Drop Off for the summer at Main Street Wadsworth Farmers Market on September 8th, 9 AM-12 PM.

Are you a local nonprofit organization who services families or individuals who could benefit from Recycle Pots and Pans to set up their kitchens? Send us an email to recyclepotsandpans@gmail.com or call us at (330) 715-4140 to become one of our partnering organizations!

This summer we were fortunate to spend lots of time with Countryside Conservancy, we have had two drop offs already (one at Howe Meadow in May, the other at Highland Square in July) and we have our final drop off event with Countryside coming up on August 4th!

However, this is not our final drop off for the season! We will be at Main Street Wadsworth Farmers Market for our final drop off event on September 8th.

We will be at Howe Meadow from 9-12 on August 4th to collect any kitchen item donations. We will be located right outside the entrance of the market with volunteers on site to help carry boxes or bags from your cars!

Not familiar with how our drop off events work? Here’s how it goes: You grab your friends, sort through your old, used, kitchenware, and bring it to the market in boxes or bags. You find us at the market, we will have volunteers on site to help carry boxes or bags from your cars to ours. You drop off your donated items, collect your tax deductible receipt, if desired, and shop the market!

Can’t make it to any of our drop offs? Remember, you can always drop off to us at 632 Temple Ave, Kent, OH 44240 at any time! Just leave your donated items under the red awning if we’re not there! Or for the Columbus area, drop off to us at 1400 Food Lab during normal business hours.