About the Sharing the Goods Program

All of Ferncliff’s programs are strengthened by our many partnerships that provide mutual benefits to individuals, organizations, and churches in our area. One of our ministries that especially demonstrates the power of partnership is Sharing the Goods, a product redistribution program that we operate out of Ferncliff’s Disaster Assistance Center warehouse.

Through Good360, the nation’s leader in product philanthropy, Ferncliff receives truckloads of product donations from companies like Home Depot, Grainger, Ferguson, Tempur-Sealy, Walmart, Amazon, and more. Ferncliff is a Community Redistribution Partner with Good360, which enables us to distribute those products to nonprofits or places of worship for pennies on the dollar. Most products are available to these organizations at a minimal handling fee, an estimated 10% or less of the retail price. 

We consider Sharing the Goods to be a mission-driven program. By finding homes for usable products, they are kept out of landfills. Furthermore, distributing these products at only a modest handling fee allows our partner organizations to maximize their budget dollars in accomplishing their mission.

However, because of the volume of items we receive – a truckload is a lot of products! – there are some items that can sit in our warehouse for months and even years. We struggled to find a solution for what to do with those things. We hate to throw things away, especially perfectly good items, but they take up space and prevent us from buying new truckloads.

Shannondale Ministries and their Magic Pavilion

Our friend Glenn Svetnicka, who serves as the Director of Outdoor Ministries for the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ (MMSUCC), came to us with a creative partnership idea this past fall.

Shannondale Ministries is the historic mission of MMSUCC. It has multiple ministry components that focus on economic justice and environmental stewardship. Shannondale supports the nearby predominately low-income community through a spot they call the “Magic Pavilion” – it’s magic because anything put in the pavilion disappears quickly!

Families in need know that items in the Magic Pavilion are free for the taking. Glenn suggested that MMSUCC, as a member organization of Sharing the Goods, could come to the warehouse on a regular basis and take a large quantity of older items for distribution through the Magic Pavilion.

Shannondale hosts regular weeklong events near the Magic Pavilion where folks can come get clothing and food items. Glenn knew that this population would really benefit from the kind of things he could find at Sharing the Goods. Many of the products we have in excess in our warehouse are bulky, heavy, often expensive household items – things like toilets, kitchen and bathroom sinks, bathroom accessories, and bathtubs. Those kinds of new products are not always accessible for low-income households, but make all the difference in making a space comfortable and safe. 

A Successful Partnership

To us, this partnership was a slam-dunk idea! It would move a large volume of products out of our warehouse and open up shelf space for new items, and most importantly we knew that those items would be going directly to families and individuals in need.

Glenn hauled off the first load of products in early December. At the Shannondale clothing sale in March, the Sharing the Goods items proved to be a huge hit. By the second day, nearly all of the warehouse items were gone! 

Some of the comments heard included, “We had our best first day of the clothing sale ever because of the additional draw.” “This is so awesome – I am so excited to finally get a new toilet seat. Lots of this is so wonderful and I can’t believe you do this.” “I will be back next time.”

Glenn visited the warehouse with a truck again in early May, and again left with a huge variety of items to distribute through the Magic Pavilion. This partnership between Ferncliff’s Sharing the Goods program and MMSUCC is proving to be mutually beneficial for all involved, and we look forward to our continued partnership in the future!

Are you intersted in becoming a member?

If you are a non-profit or church and would like to join the local network and be eligible for these discounted products, fill out this online application.

Questions? Contact Emily at 501-821-3063 or email via emily@ferncliff.org!