Future Strivers Pickin Club

Our Day Services group has formed a "Pickin" group based on the History Channel's "American Pickers." The key features of out projects are teamwork, research, inventory skills, restoration skills and marketing. Our project has started off quiet successfully. We take community integrated outings to yard sales, flea markets, 2nd hand stores and garage sales. We dig and hunt through broken furniture, rusty tools, tarnished silver and flatware, chairs, glassware and dishware hunting for treasure. With our van packed full of valuable "junk" we head back to work. The group works together to complete inventory. All items are numbered and logged in a journal. Each entry includes a description of our item, purchase price, and where the item was purchased. Next we photograph all items. We need these "before" photos to show what the item looked like before we started any restoration. Then we take on the role of researchers. We hunt through antique books, magazines and the internet to locate our purchases. This enables us to learn the history of the antique including the inventor, year. manufacturer and usage of the item. Through research we have learned more about patents, silver plate hallmarks, antique value and American history. Next we research the possible value of our items and restoration. We use power tools, dremels, sanders, cleaners and polishes to restore the antiques.Once they are completed we put the items up for sale and the money we receive helps us in our Day Program and upcoming events and projects. We have created this site in hopes to reach other people and advertise what we work so hard to accomplish.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like donate any items to our club or see something you are interested in purchasing!