Kathryn Callaway Jones (contributed)
In this creative weekly series, local author, artist and all-around entertaining and eccentric (not to mention classy!) Southern gentleman Ben Johnson South introduces Cullman Tribune readers to the creative thinkers and doers in the Cullman community.
“10 Things from a Tribune Tastemaker”
This week, meet Kathryn Callaway Jones, professional home organizer
“Think outside the box about all the things you no longer need or want, and then put those things in a box and donate them to someone who needs or wants them. It’s that simple,” said Kathryn Jones, the professional home organizer who founded the popular, Cullman, Alabama-based Simplified Spaces.
Jones is encouraging everyone to celebrate Boxing Day, Wednesday, Dec. 26, a cherished tradition throughout Great Britain for almost 200 years.
Said a smile-beaming Jones, “We all have generous hearts during the Christmas season and we’re more aware of others who need more. One of my earliest memories makes me seem destined to become a home organizer. I grew up in Eufaula, the oldest of three girls. Each Christmas my sisters and I would pull everything out of our closets and decide how to welcome our new toys and clothes. Things we had outgrown went into a big box and my folks gave them to a local charity. My dad was a veterinarian and each Christmas he would box up used pet toys and extra food and grain that had been donated to him and give those to pet owners who could put them to good use. Eufaula is not ‘veddy British,’ but we were celebrating Boxing Day each year, as do many in Alabama.”
Continued Jones, “I love to collaborate with Simplified Spaces clients during Christmas and the New Year as together we decide what to purge, cull, donate and move forward. Many of my clients have almost ‘spiritual’ attachments to objects. I understand that. If my house were on fire, God forbid, I’d grab my dearest, sentimental things, little drawings my talented grandmother sketched and my own baby cup before I’d think to grab my computer laptop. By the way, everyone reading this, please back up all your important computer data and photos.”
To learn more about Jones, call or text her at 256-347-7717.
Here are 10 ways Jones encourages you to celebrate Boxing Day on Wednesday, Dec. 26 with her this year. All of the nonprofits she suggests will provide you a donation receipt for your tax filing.
Jones smiled and added, “After you enjoy the decluttered lightness, you can reward yourself as Forrest Gump and I would, with a box of chocolates.”
- Box all the warm, winter clothes your family hasn’t worn in the last two years and give to The Foundry, Goodwill, Salvation Army and other clothing charities.
- Box pet supplies and toys and give to the Humane Society or to a local veterinarian to pass forward.
- Box canned vegetables and other pantry items to donate to an Alabama food bank.
- Box unused gardening tools and supplies and give to Master Gardeners at your county’s Alabama Extension Service.
- Box the ignition keys to an unused car, truck or boat and give to an Alabama public radio station like WLRH (Huntsville) or WBHM (Birmingham) to support programming.
- Box any DVDs, CDs, books, magazines or games your family now accesses online and donate to the Friends of the Public Library.
- Box bags of birdseed and donate to the Audubon Society to feed our fine, feathered friends this winter.
- Box ignored craft supplies, paints, kits, tools and give to an art school or art teacher.
- Box seldom-used kitchen gadgets and special task tools to your church kitchen or a United Way agency.
- Box (with your children learning to share) toys they no longer play with and give those toys to a children’s charity.
HAPPY BOXING DAY, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26, 2018!! Thank you for giving and sharing.
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