91欧美激情

‘Like treasure hunting’: Big warehouse in Maryland that offers DIYers cheap household goods gets hefty federal grant

This video is no longer available.

Tucked away near some railroad tracks between Hyattsville and Bladensburg in Maryland is a giant reuse warehouse called Community Forklift, filled with household goods, where budget conscious “do-it-yourselfers” go to save a few bucks on whatever they need.

During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a spike in home renovations which helped Community Forklift, a nonprofit reuse center, grow in popularity. Now, a federal grant secured by Rep. Glenn Ivey for $750,000 will help this organization expand what they do.

鈥淵ou will not find most of the stuff in a big box store,鈥 said Trey Davis, the executive director of Community Forklift. 鈥淚f you like treasure hunting, there’s always something cool, different, vintage and interesting. We have very inexpensive common everyday items. We also have some cool antique light fixtures. We get material from people’s estates as well. We have household goods, plates, dishware, furniture and that sort of thing as well.鈥

They also get lumber, appliances and other building materials from area builders who donate it as surplus. The federal grant, the biggest one this operation has ever received, will help expand the offerings and staff here.

鈥淭hat’s going to go towards supporting our full-time truck crews, our crews out there picking up material. But also job training and deconstruction, which is kind of the first step. If you can deconstruct a building, then those are some of the skills that you can use in going into construction trades,鈥 said Davis. 鈥淲e also hire a lot of returning citizens to work here. So some of those funds will go towards paying those salaries.鈥

A new electric vehicle will help them make more deliveries to those who need something big, but might not be able to take it home from the warehouse themselves.

items in warehouse
After COVID there was a spike in home renovations which helped Community Forklift. (91欧美激情/John Domen)
Community Forklift gets lumber, appliances and other building materials as donations. (91欧美激情/John Domen)
items in warehouse
The federal grant, the biggest one this operation has ever received, will help expand the offerings and staff here. (91欧美激情/John Domen)
(1/3)
items in warehouse
items in warehouse

鈥淟ast year, we gave away over $200,000 worth of material to local residents in need. And that can be anything from appliances, hardware, roofing supplies, etc.,” said Davis. 鈥淪o they can repair their homes and stay in them.鈥

If you have some older furniture or kitchen cabinets you just don’t like anymore, this is the place to donate. A full set of cabinets that might run you $20-$30,000 brand new can be found for a fraction of that price here.

Davis said the organization serves the entire D.C. area, including Northern Virginia, D.C. and Maryland.

鈥淲e’ll be happy to come and do pickups if they have materials to donate,” Davis said. “We’re a great place for them to come and shop.”

You can also .

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

漏 2024 91欧美激情. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

John Domen

John has been with 91欧美激情 since 2016 but has spent most of his life living and working in the DMV, covering nearly every kind of story imaginable around the region. He鈥檚 twice been named Best Reporter by the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association.聽

Federal 91欧美激情 Network Logo
Log in to your 91欧美激情 account for notifications and alerts customized for you.