|
|
You're invited to our...
Spring Celebration!
Sat. April 3rd
Historically, spring is a time to celebrate rebirth and renewal. Here at the Forklift, we give new life to old materials...so what better place to celebrate the season? Please join us, and spread the word to your friends & listservs!
Special selection of lawn & garden items, starting at 9 am. Includes tools, furniture, landscaping materials, planters, statuary, and architectural artifacts.
Lunchtime cookout with vegetarian options.
(Please email Ruthie or call 301-985-5180 if you plan to bring a dish)
Free flower, herb, & vegetable seeds
from 11 am to 2 pm
Raffles every hour, to win prizes and gift certificates! 
Live music from Magic Ray Jazz from 12:30-2:30. Then, from 2:30-5, listen to WCFR Radio! DJ OneHeARTMuzik will take requests, interview Forklift Fans, and play all genres including reggae, folk, & bluegrass.
Exact times and schedule of activities will be posted on the calendar on our website as details are finalized. And is anything blooming in your yard? We'd love some plants or cut flowers to decorate with that day...let us know if you can bring some in.
Forklift Volunteers, please contact Ruthie or call her at 301-904-7579 if you can work a shift for the raffle or the cookout.
Don't miss the party!
|
We won! We won!
A huge thank you to everyone
who voted for us in the
It's wonderful free publicity for us. Plus, you have now earned the bragging rights to say, "Yeah, I'm a Forklift Fan from way back. I knew about it even before it was named the
Best Home Goods Store
in the metro area!"
|
Vintage Volunteers Needed!
We are currently looking for a few good volunteers to help customers in our Salvage Arts department. No experience with antiques necessary, just an interest in architectural artifacts and the ability to volunteer a few times a month. It's a great chance to learn, and to meet other Forklift Fans! Please send an email and/or resume to [email protected] or call 301-985-5180.
|
Finally - more parking spots!
We know parking has been tough to find here at the warehouse, especially on bright spring days when everyone comes looking for home improvement inspiration!
 Last summer, after the railroad company finished working, Forklift Fans began parking in the field across the street. However, that field is owned by Maryland National Capital Parks & Planning, and you may get a ticket or be towed if you trespass there.
Luckily, we have a better option now!
There is now overflow parking for Community Forklift customers
in the DC Van Lines lot, between their warehouse and the railroad tracks (if you are facing Community Forklift's entrance, DC Van Lines is to your right, and the overflow parking is on the far side). Please feel free to park there. Then, after you check out, pull your vehicle into our courtyard to load your purchase.
| |
Forklift Employee
of the Month:
Doug Utterback
Senior Reuse Associate
Our Forklift Fans disagree on a lot: if a lavender sink is tacky or charming, whether to paint or stain antique wood, and of course (this being DC), the latest debates in Congress. But there's one thing that the whole Forklift community seems to agree on: we love Doug U.
As Mr. Kale Maduka, a regular customer, puts it, "He's very helpful and eager to assist! He's enthusiastic about his work." Sales Manager Freddy Huffins says, "I think that he's one of the most reliable, consistent, and - let me get the right word here because I REALLY like Doug - he's one of the hardest-working people I know. He constantly goes above and beyond for the customers and for his coworkers. That's why I love Doug Utterback!"
Does Doug feel the same way about us?
Q: What do you enjoy about your job?
DU: The ability for a young man in the working class to make a living wage. I also like that it's a green job.
Q: What about the customers?
 DU: Not to sound cheesy, but I like that this place has become a real community. Regardless of age, where you come from, who you are, you are a part of the community here. It's not like a cold department store: I know hundreds of people on first name basis, and hundreds of people know me.
Q: How long have you been working here?
DU: Almost three and a half years. Keith (our floor manager) told me about CF and got me here working part-time in '07. Then I came on full time and now I feel like it's a career.
Q: Where are you from?
DU: I'm a local boy, homegrown as it gets. I was born in DC and have lived in Cheverly most of my life.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
DU: Watch sports with my buddies. I support the local teams, because it's kinda fun to root for the underdog. Go Skins!
Q: What is something you're proud of?
DU: I've seen the company grow from a little 4-person operation, to a legitimate business where we can actually support the operation, while keeping true to our ideals and goals. It's been fun to be a part of that.
Q: If you didn't work here, what would be your dream job?
DU: I'd be working outside. Anything to do with our national park system! I would love to live in the mountains.
| |
|
Visit our huge warehouse at
4671 Tanglewood Drive,
Edmonston/Hyattsville MD 20781
Directions
Open:
Wed 12-7
Thurs, Fri, Sat 9-5
Sun 12-5
Closed: Mon & Tues
| |
|
|
How to Donate
To donate building materials, click here,
or call 301-832-0781.
|
|
"Orphan" Cabinets
75% off
Take 75% off salvaged kitchen cabinets originally priced at $34 or less (Sale does not include surplus cabinets, cabinet sets, bathroom cabinets, vintage hutches, wardrobes,or other types of furniture. Sale does not apply to cabinets without price tags).
$1 Bifold Doors
This month, pay just a dollar for salvaged hollow-core bifold doors, including flat and panel styles. (Sale does not apply to louvered or solid core bifold doors, surplus bifold doors, or other types of doors). Mount some flat ones on wall brackets to make nice wide shelves, or check out these projects: they used bifolds for room dividers, and even for raised garden beds!
Select Furniture
50% off
Look for the neon tags, and take 50% off select solid wood furniture, including dressers, headboards, tables, vintage stereo cabinets, and entertainment cabinets.
Rox Produx
Take 20% off granite bookends and clocks from our partner, Rox Produx. Items are crafted in Hyattsville using reclaimed counters and scraps of DC curbstone.
|
|
In case you missed last month's newsletter, here's the scoop: we've had great news! Our lease has been extended and we now have two years to raise the funds for a permanent home. Please consider a contribution to our capital campaign:
"Rooting a green business in the community"
1. To donate online, click here
2. Drop it off at the store,
3. Call 301-985-5180 to donate over the phone, or
4. Mail a check to 4671 Tanglewood Drive, Edmonston MD 20781.
(Please make checks out to SCI, & write "CF Building Fund" in the memo line)
|
From our friends at the
Anacostia Watershed Society...
The District has a new
Green Roof Rebate!
 It is designed for existing buildings in DC that want to retrofit a roof of 4,000 sq. ft. or more by adding a Green Roof.
This innovative program provides $7/sq. ft. for green roofs and will give property owners multiple benefits including:
Substantial financial support,
Improved building & environmental performance
Reduced operating expenses
|
Forklift Fan
of the Month: Jim Hennessy
The Forklift Fans are one of the best things about Community Forklift. Our customers and donors represent every type of Washingtonian, from all corners of the region and all sorts of backgrounds. They always have such great stories to tell...so, each month, we plan to share them with you.
 Q: Who is Jim Hennessy?
JH: I am a retired house painter and home repair guy, and I'm here looking for lumber.
Q: Where do you live?
JH: I've been living in College Park for 30 years.
Q: How long have you been shopping at Community Forklift?
JH: At least 3 years.
Q: How did you first hear about the place?
JH: I was tipped off by a lifelong friend! Back then, I was building my garage. Now, I'm looking for lumber because I'm building a three-room addition to my house. The aim of the addition is to convert a two-story house into a home that has everything on the first floor, for two seniors aging in place.
Q: I understand your 40th anniversary is on Easter. How will you spend it?
JH: Starting at noon, my beautiful wife Suzanne and I will be at Community Forklift, shopping for components for our addition - what could be more romantic?
Q: What's the best thing you've found here?
JH: I got a wonderful deal on double hung windows, and a picture window for my lakeside place in the Adirondacks. That's testimony to how far I will come, and how far I will go to transport materials back!
Q: What do you like about shopping here?
JH: Meeting people! I've met plumbers, carpenters, and building inspectors here. That's one of the main reasons I come here,
just to meet people.
Q: Do you donate as well?
JH: I recently donated some power tools, and armfuls of molding.  I'm getting ready to do a major clear out, and have plans to donate more.
Q: What else keeps you busy?
JH: When I'm not improving my house, I'm selling the famous backpacking hammock, the Hennessy hammock! My brother invented it, and the company has really taken off. Backpacking is so popular around the world, because you can avoid the expensive hotels. You can stay in hostels and see beautiful places for very little money.
Thanks so much, Mr. Hennessy!
| |
|
