SWAMPSCOTT — Big Blue Bargains, a nonprofit thrift shop, has announced that it will donate $4,000 to the Swampscott Middle School Parent Teacher Organization.
Big Blue Bargains Vice President Laura Lynn explained that the nonprofit reached out to the president of the PTO, Joe Ford, who guided them toward the biggest needs for the students. The donation will be to help fund alternative options for the eighth grade DC trip and to help fulfill a request from the Engineering Program to fund a large list of tools and supplies.
The thrift shop is a registered 501(c)(3), dedicated to supporting the Swampscott community by addressing evolving needs, and promoting sustainability through the reuse of materials, according to Lynn. It first began operating out of the middle school back in 2012.
“We knew we wanted to make our first donation, and we’ve been lucky enough to have a steady stream of shoppers and volunteers,” Lynn said. “We knew we wanted to give back to the middle school.”
Lynn continued, “The hope is that the students realize the community supports them and there’s another channel of support for the students.”
“They provided us a list totaling approximately $10,000 that we intend to fully fund between this year and next. Big Blue Bargain’s generous donation gives us a big push forward in that endeavor,” Ford said. “The donation came at a really good time.”
Ford explained how the proceeds will also help bring students on the D.C. field trip, as in the past some students were unable to attend. “There are some kids that don’t go for many reasons, and we offer an alternative option, which is to do a couple of local trips to Boston and Salem, and so the proceeds will help fund some of that, too,” he said.
