Every couple of months this strong urge to organize and clean up my house creeps up on me. I tackle one room at a time and try to leave it clutter-free and get rid of old toys, clothes, and shoes. I find piles of paper stuffed in my children's drawers with scribbles and writing all over them and torn up magazines and notebooks. I end up with a mountain of stuff I don't know what to do with. Haven't you ever emptied your closet and spotted that pretty blouse that you only wore once but never again because it didn't flatter your figure? Or how about those cute beach sandals you bought because they were on sale, but haven't been to the beach since then? If you have more than one handbag in every single color, you probably use only half of them. And what should we do with those really chic dresses that we wore last year but are so out of style this year? We give them to Mawakeb Alajer, a non-profit organization that came up with a solution for the surplus of things we buy and then discard; that others can really benefit from. Mawakeb Alajer collects used kitchen supplies, home decorations, furniture, mobile phones, computers, electric appliances, clothes, books, toys, purses, jewellery, and almost anything you can think of, and then sells those items at unbelievably low prices. Families can purchase the things they need that may be too expensive for them in regular stores. In fact, anyone can shop there, whether to save some money, catch really unique antiques, or find rare books that are not sold in bookstores anymore. For example, a young man who wants to get married but can't afford to buy new furniture, can go to Mawkeb Alajer. He can find a bedroom set, dining rooms, living rooms, and even a washing machine that still works well. Mawakeb Alajer even offers lots of branded hand bags and designer dresses. A young bride who doesn't want to pay 5,000 riyals for a wedding gown that she will wear for one night can rent a beautiful wedding gown from Mawakeb Alajer at a very reasonable price. In this way, the organization help families living in poverty to attain some of the luxuries that the rest of us usually take for granted. They also offer a vast array of excellent books in several different languages that you can purchase at low prices. Their amazing work does not end here. Proceeds from the items they sell in their shop go to an orphanage in Taif. They also use some of the money to put together food boxes that are distributed to needy families during Ramadan. Sugar, flour, lentils, pasta, oil, rice, and other food items go into the food box. Hundreds of families rely on Mawakeb Alajer for food during Ramadan and throughout the year. They are also responsible for assisting many patients suffering from kidney failure and their families. The name “Mawakeb Alajer” represents a caravan carrying goods, bounties, and good deeds to people. I think Mawakeb Alajer is doing a great service to our community and we should each pitch in so they can continue spreading aid and smiles among those in need. You can donate anything that you no longer want to Mawakeb Alajer. They have a shortage of drivers so you should try to take your collection to their shop in Jeddah. You can also take items such as papers, plastic, cardboard, aluminum soda cans and tin cans for recycling purposes. You will help keep our environment cleaner, and the money they receive from recycling goes to orphans and sick people. Those concerned for the environment now have an easy way to recycle. Just drop off your recyclable items in separated boxes and Mawakeb Alajer will deliver them to the right recycling factories for you. Another way you can help is by telling your friends, relatives, and neighbors about Mawakeb Alajer. Their working hours are Saturday through Thursday from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. and Fridays from 4 P.M. to 9 P.M. For more information you can call: 0552412167 or e-mail at [email protected]. Their Facebook account is Mawakeb Alajer.
