Reuse of Society's Abundance (ROSA)
1998
- Present
Total
Raised: $137,206.02
Direct Program Expenses: $130.205.19 = 94.8%
Manmade Surplus = Used furniture, equipment, clothing, appliances, building
materials, supplies...
Eco-Education = Incubating projects and connecting like-minded
members in our database
Computer lab furnished
entirely through ROSA / Excess Access donations.
ROSA is our manmade surplus and research program. As MofT's first program,
ROSA began with founder Lisa Gautier buzzing around in a minivan with a
toddler in one arm and wish lists in the other. As demand grew, ROSA's donations
and donors were put online and since 1999 matching has been done automatically
through our Excess Access website (see below).
Now, ROSA concentrates on developing a "critical mass" of donors
and recipients throughout the US. Often when there are unusual items or
large quantities ROSA does the handholding and coordination necessary to
increase successful matching. ROSA also scouts when MofT could act as an
incubator for new programs or as a catalyst for partnerships between similar
ecological organizations. Thanks to the accessibilty the web provides and
the Excess Access program (see below), we continually meet new nonprofits
and socially conscious businesses from far and wide. We're in an excellent
position to introduce like-minded members and our files are full of emails
telling how these collaborations have been beneficial. Sometimes we get
even more involved and fiscally sponsor grass roots projects!
Excess
Access, LLC (EA)
1998 - Present
Excess Access has donated $5,860 to MofT's General Fund To Date
Manmade Surplus = Used
furniture, equipment, clothing, appliances, building materials, supplies...
Our
online database service for ROSA (see above) that automatically matches business and household
item donations with the wishlists of nearby nonprofits that can accept drop-offs or provide
pick-ups. Now serving the US, Canada and beyond.
Daily, thousands of dollars worth of secondhand goods are finding homes and thousands of pounds worth of useful materials are being kept out of overflowing landfills.
Chairs, desks, equipment, rugs, clothes, kids' items, supplies, food, sofas,
appliances... All kinds of items are posted by donors who log on to our
site. And we get thousands of emails from families and charities alike that
have made lasting connections through these in-kind donations.
Orchards International Project
2004 - Present
Total Raised $1,000 (Used for transport of inkind donations)
Direct Program Expenses: $967 = 97%
Manmade Surplus = Clothing, rice, powdered milk (= 1 million cups)
Distribution of rice and clothing to school children in Dascht-e-Barchi,
Afghanistan
Matter of Trust is the fiscal agent for Orchards International Projects,
run by Doug Franco. Doug coordinates with many logistics partners to get
goods to children in Kabul. Thanks to Doug and his team, we also managed
to get two ultrasounds donated in the US through Excess Access to the only
eye clinic in Kabul.
Sole To Soil
2008 - Present
Total Budget: $80,000
Manmade Surplus = Shoes, Clothes, Wool Carpets
In collaboration with Triced Recycling, The East Bay Depot For Creative Reuse, St. Vincent de Paul Society and SF Carpet Recycling, this ROSA project is all about sustainability and manmade surplus.
This is using one reuse program to help another. In our search for funding sources and partners for our hairmats program, we joined forces with these amazing groups and discovered we could combine resources and distribute other surplus materials together. By collecting donated shoes and clothing with the help of Triced Recycling trucks, we distribute items to migrant workers and sell excess to rag trade buyers. By collecting used wool carpets on joot backing for a fee, we donate to Haiti which uses the material as ground cover for soil erosion prevention on the island.
Sudan Medi-Bus
2008 - Present
Total Budget: $2500
Manmade Surplus = Gutted schoolbus for ambulance use
In collaboration with Dr. James H. McKerrow, Professor Mamoun Hamida and Dr. Maha Abdullah. There are many Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps throughout Sudan. Many NGOs (international nonprofits) assit them but communication between these NGOs isn't ideal. Dr. McKerrow visited 3 camps north of Khartoum and at each one the clinic personnel said they can handle most non-emergent things but have no transport to local hospitals for emergency cases such as appendicits etc. Regional hospitals are very good. Given the proximity of many camps, one vehicle would be sufficient, but would need to have bed-like cots. And so came the idea for a revamped school bus.
VeggieVan.org
Katrina Relief Project
- PROJECT COMPLETED
(for
continuing Katrina wishes / gifts see Excess Access)
2005
Total Raised: $5,080
Direct Program Expenses: $5,000 = 98.43%
Manmade Surplus = Supplies to Katrina victims
Natural Surplus = Biodiesel to power supply boats
Matter of Trust is the fiscal agent for VeggieVan.org, whose founder, Josh
Tickell, is from Louisiana. After the hurricane struck, thanks to the coordinating
efforts of Josh and many volunteers, biodiesel providers got fuel to supply
boats and diesel trucks when conventional fuel wasn't available. Food, clothing
donations and necessities reached remote areas and grateful residents.
Louisiana and Missisisippi Katrina Relief Benefit - PROJECT COMPLETED
(for
continuing Katrina wishes / gifts see Excess Access)
2005
Total Raised: $2,140
Direct Program Expenses: $2,033 = 95%
-$475 and school supplies to East Baton Rouge School District
-$779 and household supplies to Christian Fellowship Outreach Mission, Tylertown
Miss.
-$779 to Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Manmade Surplus = School Supplies, Clothing and Children's Supplies
..... 
Matter of Trust was the fiscal sponsor for the benefit performance
by Anne Galjour of her play "Hurricane," which draws inspiration
from the peculiarities of daily life in Louisiana's Cajun community. Shawn
Rosenmoss coordinated the grassroots fundraiser and transported school supplies
(backpacks, lunch boxes, calculators, notebooks...) and kid's clothing to
East Baton Rouge School District overwhelmed by the high volume of Katrina
victims fleeing into the Parish. Funds
were also raised for assisting carpenters and masonry workers, such as Adam
of Fabricatorz and other volunteers from Northern California, to reach Christian
Fellowship Outreach Mission in devastated Tylertown, Mississippi. Funds
were used for purchase of supplies and logistical needs.
Music
in Schools Today (MUST) Joint Project With ROSA -
PROJECT COMPLETED
(for
continuing instrument wishes / gifts see Excess
Access)
1999 - 2000
Total Funds: $34,331.54
MuSTCreate.org: $29,385.51 = 85.6%
MofT's Reuse of Society's Abundance (ROSA) recycling program: $4,946.03
= 14.4%
Manmade Surplus = secondhand musical instruments
......... 
Fundraising project promoting secondhand instrument donations to
Northern California Public Schools.