At the Donations Door, Each Day Is and Adventure

At the Donations Door, Each Day Is an Adventure 

By Ethan Rogers 

Going into my second year of college, I wanted to get further immersed in Boston. I had just spent a year on campus, but had hybrid classes and virtual clubs, and I wanted to get off the screen and explore all that the city has to offer, including volunteering opportunities. I distinctly remember driving past Boston Building Resources on the day I moved in in September, and though I did not know anything about the cause, I am glad the name stuck with me. I first got involved at BBR in the fall of 2021 through Northeastern University’s Community Volunteer Program (CVP), which had me volunteering there once a week. In January, after the CVP program ended, I started a part-time position as a donations receiver.  

I had been working in the donations department since September, but starting as a receiver meant new responsibilities. I never had a job in customer service, so it was a new experience for me. The first few donation doorbell rings were quite daunting—I was still learning what donations we accept and what we do not, and I had a difficult time telling people they had items that we could not accept. Additionally, I was working on processing donations on the shelves around my desk. These shelves were packed with boxes when I started, and I made it one of my goals to clear them out as much as possible over the semester in order to make way for new donations. 

I can confidently say I learned a great deal while on the job. After learning which items could be accepted as donations, I took to learning terms and material names that made writing out donation receipts much easier. The research I conducted on donations was also useful in understanding the value of each item. I also developed organizational techniques as I created space by consolidating anonymous donations in categories such as electrical, doors, and plumbing.  

Every day at BBR was exciting because I never knew what items might come through the door. I think the most interesting donation I got to process was an antique Singer sewing machine, which was exciting to both examine and research before selling. Every day also had its “12:55ers,” as I liked to refer to them. Basically, I would spend my shift clearing shelves of past donations to make way for new ones. I would be getting ready to leave in just a few minutes, but then a massive donation would come in and immediately fill all the empty space I had just made. Though momentarily a bit frustrated, I was happy to see that community members continue to donate their building materials. I am grateful to have been involved in this cause.