This week’s task was to give thanks by giving back in a green way.  On Monday, we spent some time at Fill the Dome where we were able to help the hungry in our area as well as work for food recovery and redistribution.  On Thursday, we spent some time of our own with our families eating too much.  During the last half of the week, I spent time gathering stuff that we do not use to give to the North Dakota Boy’s Ranch, which is a charitable organization in the area.  Giving this stuff to the Boy’s Ranch promotes ‘green’ by reusing items and getting product into the hands of those who might use it more than I.  I was absolutely amazed at how much stuff I have that I never use and wonder if other families are like ours.

First, I went through all of the shirts that are hanging our closet and came up with

Stuff we gave away

 over 80.  Looking at that number alone, one may think me to be a guy who shops a lot or has an extensive fashionable wardrobe, but that is not the case.  I don’t think I am that out of the ordinary in that I really only buy new shirts when on vacation or for work.  I think I have accumulated such a collection of shirts just because I never throw anything out.  Some of these shirts have not been worn for years and that was the litmus test for keeping a shirt.  If I had not remembered the last time I wore the shirt, it was going to charity.  I have widdled the number of shirts I own down to about 40.

Even though you might still think 40 is a lot of shirts, I do live in a climate that demands a variety of clothing.  Speaking of climate appropriate clothing, I found one beauty I have nicknamed my Broke Back Mountain coat pictured here.  This

Me wearing the Brokeback Mountain jacket

grand prize of winter fashion faux-pas was found in my aunt’s garage and is likely from the 60s or 70s.  Honestly, it is very warm, but not for me.  It is a beautiful coat not deserving to be in my possession and now available at the Boy’s Ranch in Fargo.

Another winner is a penis tie that my cousin gave me as a gag gift.  It is a normal tie with penises all over it.  I certainly could wear it if I needed to wear a tie to work and wanted to be fired.  I do appreciate the gift and thought about regifting this gem of a tie, but thought I would send it to the Boy’s Ranch.

Between Ashley and me, we collected a huge box of clothing, a fax machine, a travel bag that we no longer use and a box of various computer parts that someone may use.  Instead of letting this pile of stuff gather dust at our house, we are putting it to good use by sending it to a charitable organization.  Not only is it helpful to those who may need these items, it also is green because it promotes a basic tenet of ‘going green’ by reusing what we already have.