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A group of nine volunteers converged on the Saratoga Resale shop with the goal of removing the trash and debris from in front and around the building Jan. 4. -
A group of nine volunteers converged on the Saratoga Resale shop with the goal of removing the trash and debris from in front and around the building Jan. 4.
Motorists traveling through the small western Hardin County town passed an eyesore – a so-called resale shop partially covered by piles of trash and debris in front of its building.
After seeing the mounds of trash and debris stack up, a social media post kicked off a cleanup effort by local residents, and even an outsider.
Jan. 4, a group of nine volunteers converged on the Saratoga Resale shop with the goal of removing the trash and debris from in front and around the building.
According to Cindy Flowers, of the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department, the group was given permission to clean up the old shop on FM 770.
“It was across from the Saratoga Fire Station and a definite eyesore to the community,” said Flowers.
She said the store is not closed but the people renting the building were also living there.
“Every time someone wanted to donate them anything they would take it, then they started renting U-Haul trucks and would get U-Haul storage bins that was left so they would bring loads of stuff and then not have anything to do with it,” Flowers said. “So things would begin to pile up. The inside of the building filled up so they just started putting stuff outside. They said it was because they have had medical issues the last couple of months.”
After Flowers posted photos of the trash and debris at the shop on social media Jan. 3, within two hours, more than $1,000 was raised for a large roll-off dumpster.
“We raised the $1,100 and so they brought the dumpster the next morning at 8 a.m.,” said Flowers. “Several from the community with tractors and work gloves, including a lady that doesn’t even live here, that had seen it on Facebook, showed up to help clean Wednesday morning.”
By that evening, the front of the building was clutter free. According to Flowers, the group filled two 40-yard dumpsters.
“We truly thank everyone who donated money, time and equipment to make this community look so much better,” she added.
Flowers noted there is more work to do inside the shop.
She added the shop has been open for about three years with the current renters.