Casa Mesita
Encyclopedia
Casa Mesita refers to two separate non-profit organizations in Los Alamos, New Mexico
. Casa Mesita Thrift Shop and Casa Mesita Group Home are two of many social enterprise
organizations in Los Alamos County
, one of the highest-income counties in the United States
, in a state with household income far below the national median.
The thrift shop benefits society by providing:
In 2005, Casa Mesita Thrift Shop purchased a larger single family house for the group home. The thrift shop was also the owner of the previous house that had been occupied by the group home. The group home pays no rent to the thrift shop.
Also in 2005, the thrift shop moved from its long term location in a garage on a back street (15th Street) to a storefront facing the local supermarket across a parking lot (Meri Mac shopping plaza between Trinity and Central). the new location increased traffic to the thrift shop but meant that the thrift shop no longer could accept as many donations of bulkier items such as couches, major household appliances (white goods), construction materials, and moving boxes. Alternative solutions for major appliances and construction materials include giving them away through the Los Alamos chapter of Freecycle
, and donating them to Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Española and Santa Fe. The Española ReStore has a drop-off location in Los Alamos. Cardboard moving boxes in very good condition can be passed on to others via Freecycle or by calling local real estate agencies and the postdoctoral program office at Los Alamos National Laboratory
. A local package shipper, UPEX, accepts donations of used foam peanut
s. Casa Mesita sells books about cooking, crafts, home repair, health, general reference, popular novels, and children's books. Other books can be donated at Mesa Public Library
, where the Friends of the Library Bookstore accepts many used books for resale and an informal free book swap operates in the library lobby. Laboratory equipment can be sold or donated to Ed Grothus
's laboratory surplus shop, The Black Hole.
for up to 8 girls aged 12–18, founded in 1972 to shelter girls in need of a safe place to live. It is a United Way agency.
Los Alamos, New Mexico
Los Alamos is a townsite and census-designated place in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while...
. Casa Mesita Thrift Shop and Casa Mesita Group Home are two of many social enterprise
Social enterprise
A social enterprise is an organization that applies business strategies to achieving philanthropic goals. Social enterprises can be structured as a for-profit or non-profit....
organizations in Los Alamos County
Los Alamos County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*87.8% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*6.0% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.6% Two or more races*2.2% Other races*14.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, one of the highest-income counties in the United States
Highest-income counties in the United States
There are 3,141 counties in the United States. The source of the data is the U.S. Census Bureau and the data is current as of the indicated year. Independent cities are considered county-equivalent by the Census Bureau.-2011:...
, in a state with household income far below the national median.
Casa Mesita Thrift Shop
Casa Mesita Thrift Shop (NMSCC 0833772, Casa Mesita Thrift Shop Inc.) is a non-profit organization that operates a thrift shop for the purpose of supporting a group home for girls. The thrift shop sells donated, mostly used goods. The organization is 100% volunteer run; it has no employees and pays no salaries and no wages. At times, the thrift shop has paid casual labor to transport unsellable items to the municipal dump.The thrift shop benefits society by providing:
- significant financial and other support to Casa Mesita Group Home
- urgently needed clothing and household items to local families in distress due to fires and other catastrophes
- surplus donations to deserving clients of other local non-profit organizations
- additional surplus donations to Clothes for Kids, Salvation Army, an orphanage in MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and other non-profit organizations - an efficient, socially and environmentally responsible way for donors to discard usable material goods
- high quality goods at low cost to residents of Los Alamos and the surrounding area
- greater variety of retail shopping in Los Alamos
In 2005, Casa Mesita Thrift Shop purchased a larger single family house for the group home. The thrift shop was also the owner of the previous house that had been occupied by the group home. The group home pays no rent to the thrift shop.
Also in 2005, the thrift shop moved from its long term location in a garage on a back street (15th Street) to a storefront facing the local supermarket across a parking lot (Meri Mac shopping plaza between Trinity and Central). the new location increased traffic to the thrift shop but meant that the thrift shop no longer could accept as many donations of bulkier items such as couches, major household appliances (white goods), construction materials, and moving boxes. Alternative solutions for major appliances and construction materials include giving them away through the Los Alamos chapter of Freecycle
The Freecycle Network
The Freecycle Network is a non-profit organization registered in the state of Arizona, USA, and separately registered as a UK charity, that organizes a worldwide network of "gifting" groups, aiming to divert reusable goods from landfills...
, and donating them to Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Española and Santa Fe. The Española ReStore has a drop-off location in Los Alamos. Cardboard moving boxes in very good condition can be passed on to others via Freecycle or by calling local real estate agencies and the postdoctoral program office at Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security , located in Los Alamos, New Mexico...
. A local package shipper, UPEX, accepts donations of used foam peanut
Foam peanut
Foam peanuts, also known as packing peanuts or packing noodles, are a common loose-fill packaging and cushioning material used to prevent damage to fragile objects during shipping. They are shaped to interlock when compressed and free flow when not compressed...
s. Casa Mesita sells books about cooking, crafts, home repair, health, general reference, popular novels, and children's books. Other books can be donated at Mesa Public Library
Mesa Public Library
Mesa Public Library is the Los Alamos branch of the Los Alamos County library.The library started in 1943 as a subscription library, after the donation of 5$ by 70 families living in...
, where the Friends of the Library Bookstore accepts many used books for resale and an informal free book swap operates in the library lobby. Laboratory equipment can be sold or donated to Ed Grothus
Ed Grothus
Edward B. Grothus was a machinist/technician and employee of the Los Alamos National Laboratory during the 1950s and 1960s...
's laboratory surplus shop, The Black Hole.
Casa Mesita Group Home
Casa Mesita Group Home (NMSCC 0724302, Casa Mesita Inc.) is a group homeGroup home
A group home is a private residence designed or converted to serve as a non-secure home for unrelated persons who share a common characteristic.-Types of group homes:...
for up to 8 girls aged 12–18, founded in 1972 to shelter girls in need of a safe place to live. It is a United Way agency.
External links
- VolunteerMatch web page for Casa Mesita Thrift Shop
- ReStores in New Mexico