Collecting For a Good Cause | Video

Alex Hagan | 9/12/2012

Residents may not have sold everything during the busy rummage weekend and now the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation is taking over.

"I think probably 500 rummage sales on Bis-Man online this weekend so after the rummage sales, people have all this leftover stuff," said warehouse manager Marc Woodworth.

The agency has had 140 to 220 drop offs per day in the months of August and September and almost 3,600 per month. The majority of their donations come from rummage sales.

"Basically takes us all morning to get to people`s houses and load their merchandise," Woodworth said.

The organization is the only non-profit to come out for pick-ups, and that can be a little stressful.

"Tired, but good, because it`s a lot of good stuff. We appreciate every donor that we get because they give us the stuff that keeps us in business," Woodworth said.

The Ranch Foundation served a total of 867 youth and families last year and donations make that possible.

"The donations are very critical in our funding process. We rely so much on the foundations from the thrift stores for our program," said Community Outreach Specialist Laurie Dannewitz.

But donations aren`t the only thing funding the agency.

"The funding comes from private donation grants whether they`re federal, state of private. We get paid for service and that includes the medicaid reimbursement and insurance," Dannewitz said.

The donations are great for the state as well.

"They know the merchandise that they`re giving us is not leaving the state. It`s staying right here and all the proceeds are helping people here in North Dakota," Woodworth said.

Rummage sales may be a place to get something cheap, but for the Dakota Boys and Ranch Foundation it`s a way to keep serving the needs of others.

Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch has eight locations including Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, and Fargo. All of which will come out for pick-ups.

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