United Way Warehouse Offers Virtually Free Goods

Remember that game-show supermarket Sweep where contestants grab as much as they can in a limited time?
 
  That’s what goes on every week inside a United Way of Piedmont warehouse, but it’s no game.

  Roughly 50 not-for-profits come to the Spartanburg warehouse to load up on the goods each week.  They are allowed a half hour to take whatever they want including pots and pans paper towels zip-lock bags toys—anything accept food and cloths.
 
  Lyn Turner with Middle Tyger Lyman says the community center’s daycare is saving a lot.

  :Last year we had to spend $15,000 just in diapers and wipes for our children.  So this year we won’t have to buy any diapers which means that that money can go to another area,” said Turner. 

  This gift in kind warehouse is one of only 6 in the country.  Every day a tractor-trailer worth of products comes through the doors.  And United Way says between $12 -$15 million worth of goods will be distributed each year.

    The products come from manufacturers who can’t sell them because they’ve been slightly damaged or returned.

  United Way of Piedmont president and CEO Kathy Dunleavy says the non-profits pay a yearly fee of $500 and a $10 usage fee each visit. 
  It’s to cover the cost of the warehouse, but she adds the non-profits take up to three times that amount in a single visit.

“On average one shopping event, if you will, for an agency for 30 minutes will reap them somewhere around $1,000 to $1,500 in products so they make up their $500 membership fee in one 30 minute visit”   
 
    One caveat, the products can’t be resold.  So they go right to needy members of our