Outside, there is still the gritty facade of what was most recently Vinalhaven’s public works garage; preceding that, it was the net factory, with much older roots.
Now the building houses the island’s Swap Shop, an intown facility relocated from the dump. Especially for those familiar with the old one, the surprise is inside—an interior resembling a department store, various sections stocked with the different categories of goods—but no price tags on anything because all of it has been donated and is free.
The Swap Shop had always been a last-ditch place where items no longer wanted by someone could be left, available for somebody who could use it. But the problem with the original building at the town’s transfer station was, as a dark and relatively small space, things could get broken, disorganized, damp, and dirty. When too full inside, donations spilled over into piles outside. Sporadically cleaned, much would end up in the trash. The pandemic closed it down for a few years, but a dedicated and hard-working committee called the Waste Watchers, with town support, brought into being this newest iteration in November 2021.
Gone now is the dark, chaotic, and crowded cave-like space. The well-lit room with high ceilings, filled with volunteer-crafted racks, tables, and shelving, nicely displays what’s available. Volunteers— 20 or so regulars with extra support from seasonal residents over the busy summer—work sorting and organizing donations. Happy to help donors and shoppers, they also act as greeters and guides, answering questions and just being welcoming. It is not uncommon to hear lively discussions throughout the Swap Shop because it is one of the best places in town to have a friendly, if unexpected, conversation. It feels like a community center of sorts. You meet new people, or put faces to names, or see someone you hadn’t in a long time. With socializing minimized over the last couple years, there’s some catching up to do.
The pandemic had an undeniable impact. Feeling safer by avoiding shared spaces and proximity to people, island communities like Vinalhaven turned to the idea of isolation as protection. “Outsiders” were strongly discouraged from coming that first year or so—even seasonal residents owning homes there. Now, the Swap Shop enthusiastically welcomes all. Getting people in and stuff out—that’s what Pat Lundholm of Waste Watchers calls its mission.
Of course, connections are quickly made in the shop. Once someone becomes a “regular,” a volunteer is apt to quickly point out what’s new that you might like. Photographs posted on its Facebook page also provide alerts about recent additions. Among the beneficiaries, expectant parents have been thrilled to find much of what’s needed for a baby. Young people furnishing their own living space acquire kitchen items, rugs, lamps, artwork. Craft supplies, sports equipment, books, toys, and puzzles are always popular with families. Clothing is a fascinating mix from never-worn to vintage gems; it’s a section with added interest at Halloween.
It is more often a plus than a minus that on a small island familiarity abounds, and so much about people’s lives can be common knowledge. Shoppers might guess from whose attic or tag sale items originated, to now become inventory at the Swap Shop. The way stuff goes “round and round,” passing from one family to the next, contributes to a feeling of self-sufficiency, I think; so many needs can get met right here. It’s like getting produce grown on one of the island farms—the terroir of place is value-added.
As Pat Lundholm describes it, “Everyone leaves the Swap Shop with a smile.”
It’s true, but I don’t think it is just from the thrill of the hunt or success in finding what one needed. Giving usable things away feels good, too. There’s satisfaction from donating items that can go on to benefit someone else. Environmentally, when we reuse and repurpose, we put less in the dumpster and therefore less in a landfill. And when things don’t become trash, we save money; the town pays less for transfer station expenses.
But I believe the most valuable benefit is a social one. Those smiling faces? We’re experiencing, in an up-close and personal way, a renewed appreciation of what a community can do together, as we help each other and once again enjoy being with each other. For Vinalhaveners, the Swap Shop is its sweet spot.
Tina Cohen is a therapist who spends part of the year on Vinalhaven.
