The Christmas Trading Post & The Recycle Knight Club Recycling Center of Port Huron will present the Community Back to School Trading Event and Exchange of Treasurers on Aug. 24 and 25.
The Christmas Trading Post & The Recycle Knight Club Recycling Center is run by Jes Dawson and her 8-year-old son Westley.
The Recycle Knight Club Recycling Center is a platform for recycling efforts. Its purpose includes collecting and processing recyclable materials, reducing waste in the community, educating people about proper recycling practices and sustainable living, providing community recycling drop off and information for the community to live more eco-friendly lives and hosting trading events, community trash pickups, recycled craft meet ups and activities promoting the five R’s of the Recycle Knight Club: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Reinvent.
The Christmas Trading Post’s purpose is to promote sustainability and reduce waste during the holiday season and beyond. Participants can trade gently used gifts, decorations, or other items instead of buying new ones; exchange unwanted items; donate items to those in need and learn about eco-friendly holiday practices.
Dawson said last Christmas, she and her son discussed plans to declutter and donated unwanted items.
“He asked thoughtful questions about the donation process and how organizations like Goodwill operate, noting that people who can’t afford much donate their items for free, only to have others buy them at a profit,” she said. “I shared how others often see old items they donated resold for higher prices and he became determined to find a better solution.”
She said Westley was inspired by video games and historical examples to create a space where people trade things.
“This sparked the ideas for The Christmas Trading Post and The Recycle Knight Club,” Dawson said. “Despite struggling with ADHD, shyness and social anxiety, he persevered, dedicating himself to this project every weekend for 12 weeks and countless behind the scene hours. As the initiative grew, so did his confidence.”
The initial two boxes of donations expanded to over 10 boxes and numerous large items, constantly rotating. The pair set up a welcoming marketplace on their porch where families could bring their unwanted items and trade them for pre-owned goods.
“My son, now the president and driving force behind the Recycle Knight Club, would greet visitors from inside our house at his ‘corner office window,’ facilitating transactions and offering complimentary handmade recycled Christmas gifts and cards,” Dawson said. “This experience brought immense joy to my son, who often feels lonely during the holidays. His adult sisters don’t live at home anymore and he doesn’t have any other family around other than us. The support from our community, all the amazing donations and positive feedback were a true Christmas miracle. I’m incredibly proud of Wes’ determination and resilience, and I’ve witnessed a remarkable confidence boost in him.”
The Community Back to School Trading Event and Exchange of Treasurers will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 24 and 25 and will also celebrate Westley’s ninth birthday, the Facebook event states.
“Imagine a garage sale, but instead of spending money, you trade your gently used items for new treasures,” Dawson said. “Our Back to School Trading Event is a fun and exciting experience where you can declutter your old clothing, refresh your belongings and have a blast while helping others and the environment.”
Attendees can gather items they no longer need or want, such as clothes, toys, books and more, bring them to the event and give them to Westley. A team will sort and display the items for trading, and attendees can browse through the event’s selection of goods.
“Trade your items for something new to you, and take it home with a smile,” Dawson said. “It’s free to participate; it’s fun for the whole family.”
She said if there is a great response, they will plant to repeat the event the following weekend.
The event will also include giveaways, games, contests, crafts and more, as well as a Westley recycled birthday gift exchange, where if someone brings him a recycled card, gift or something recyclable, he will give that person a gift, too.
Refreshments will include Westley’s “famous strawberry lemonade sale,” where people can bring their own bottle or purchase a handmade recycled glass jar cup with a reusable sticker.
“We hope everyone with gently used items comes to trade or donate at our event,” Dawson said. “The success of our trading events relies on the participation and generosity of our community members. Your ‘trash’ is someone’s ‘treasure.’ What may seem like useless clutter to you could be someone else’s dream find.”
Dawson said the concept for the Back to School Trading Event was born during the holiday grand opening, and since then, the pair has been working to bring it to life.
“Our regular meetings with the Recycle Knight team — so far, consisting of Wes’s beloved stuffed animals — have been a catalyst for innovation,” she said. “These brainstorming sessions have sparked creative ideas, fostering a vision that promotes sustainability and connection at home, as well as the community. We’ve shared countless laughs and created unforgettable memories together.”
Dawson said since the trading journey began at Christmastime, the pair has organized various other events, such as a winter coat drive, a spring cleaning trade, spring trash pickup events and more.
In addition, there will be more events and projects in the future, such as a Halloween Spooky Science Fair, a Non-Biodegradable Winter Wonderland, a Non-Biodegradable Mr. Snowman and a one year anniversary of the grand reopening.
“At the heart of our mission is Wes, a young environmental enthusiast with a dream to become an environmental scientist and save the world,” she said. “Since the age of 3, he’s been tirelessly working on genius recycled inventions aimed at saving the world.”
Dawson said it brings her joy to see Westley share his knowledge and passion with others.
“Witnessing him engage in conversations about his beloved inventions and sustainability initiatives is truly heartwarming,” she said. “His dedication and enthusiasm are contagious, and I can’t wait to see him inspire others to join the fight against waste and pollution.”
She said the pair is excited to expand its online platform and share practical recycling tips and tricks, creative recycled crafts and projects and important environment information and statistics. They are also planning regular community meetups, trash pickups, recycling drives and crafting sessions.
“Wes is passionate about making a difference,” Dawson said. “He’s dedicated to recycling, picking up trash wherever he goes and brainstorming innovative ideas to protect the planet. His dream is to go viral and inspire a wave of change, believing that ‘One person can change and save the world. Maybe that person is me.’”
The Christmas Trading Post & The Recycle Knight Club Recycling Center is located at 3709 31st St. in Port Huron. For more information, search for “The Christmas Trading Post & The Recycle Knight Club Recycling Center” on Facebook.
