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 Barb Messelhiser, assistant manager of Goodwill Industries in Le Mars, stand by the empty bins which are usually filled with children's toys, books and clothes. Those items were pulled from the shelf due to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act which is in place to help protect 12 year olds and younger from products with lead in them. [Click to enlarge] |
It was completely empty.
But what he didn't know was that those toys, along with children's clothing, are being pulled from the shelves of Goodwill Industries for his own protection.
Sixteen Goodwill Industries stores in four states are taking children's toys and clothes off shelves to make sure those under the age of 12 are protected from any items with lead or lead products in them.
This decision was based on recent information from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. The act comes from the government entity that sets recalls for consumer products that may be hazardous or cause injuries.
"Anything with sequins, hard buttons, zippers and snaps ... could potentially have lead in it," said Goodwill Industries spokesperson Paul Kellen.
But no items have been identified for sure. A lead testing kit would cost about $35,000 to $40,000 for each location.
For now, the Goodwill stores are waiting for the government to come out with more guidelines as to what can be sold and can't be sold.
In the meantime, all those toys and clothes pulled from the shelves are being kept and stored.
"We can't put anything with lead in it in the landfill, and we can't give it to a wholesaler," Kellen said.
At the Le Mars Goodwill, big boxes of clothes, books and toys are being stacked in the storage room.
"When we have more information, the stores can restock the shelves as we determine what is safe," Kellen said.
Employees in Le Mars have cleared many of the children's shelves.
"It's a huge undertaking -- man hours, the financial end...but the safety of the families and people that shop in our stores and our employees is always first priority," Kellen said.
In the meantime, Goodwill Industries stores are still taking donations.
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This will include consignment shops, 2nd hand clothing stores, rummage sales, garage sales..etc..
Who do you think will benefit the most from this action? Walmart maybe? (I mean besides the 1000's of kids getting sick and dying from lead poisoning each day.)
Magdalene..could you check and see if Walmart lobbys Congress?
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." James Madison
Wow that was deep thinking from a clear thinker!!
Well maybe I should be DeepThinker instead...Forest, do you want to take ClearThinker and I'll go ahead and take DeepThinker like like this young lady suggests?
If the government wants to come stop my rummage this summer they are sure welcome. But until they do, I will still sell childrens items. Thats all I have to sell, my kids have far too much of everything! And I would not sell something that i would not let my own children play with.