Loading...
Charleston Guns to Garden (G2G) operates as a nonprofit firearm recycling program serving the Charleston, West Virginia area and surrounding Kanawha County communities. The organization provides a safe, legal, and judgment-free way for individuals to surrender unwanted firearms. The program follows ...
Own Charleston Guns to Garden?
01 // DETAILS
Full description and what we offer
Charleston Guns to Garden (G2G) operates as a nonprofit firearm recycling program serving the Charleston, West Virginia area and surrounding Kanawha County communities. The organization provides a safe, legal, and judgment-free way for individuals to surrender unwanted firearms.
The program follows a defined safety protocol:
1. Firearm Inspection - Each gun is checked to ensure it's unloaded 2. On-Site Dismantling - Firearms are cut up using chop saws, separating metal and wood components 3. Metal Transformation - Components are melted down following Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms guidelines 4. Crafting - Metal and wood are reformed into functional garden tools, jewelry, and art pieces
The organization has documented several common reasons people surrender firearms:
The program also recognizes that suicide prevention is a significant aspect of firearm surrender services.
At the inaugural event, 17 individuals surrendered 27 firearms that were dismantled on-site:
| Firearm Type | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Single-shot rifles/shotguns | 4 |
| Handguns | 16 |
| Semi-automatic weapons | 7 |
All firearms were dismantled with chop saws and transported to RAWTools-South's forge in Asheville, NC, where they were reformed into jewelry, art, and garden tools.
Location: St. Mark's UMC, 900 Washington St. E., Charleston, WV Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Cost: Free for gun owners
Participants who surrender firearms receive grocery gift cards from Walmart and Kroger as tokens of appreciation.
Charleston G2G partners with RAWTools-South, a nonprofit organization based in Asheville, North Carolina. RAWTools-South:
These finished items were featured for sale at First Presbyterian Church's Hope Village Craft Sale in December 2024, generating community awareness and support.
Charleston G2G is supported by donations from:
2024 Financial Report: - Total donations received: $10,463 - RAWTools-South services and equipment: $3,500 - Gift cards distributed to participants: $3,850 - Organization maintains transparent financial records
Charleston Guns to Garden has received significant local media attention:
Founded in late 2023, Charleston Guns to Garden is organized by dedicated volunteers:
The organization operates under the fiscal sponsorship of Village Chapel Presbyterian Church (3818 Venable Ave., Charleston, WV 25304).
People can support the program through:
Donations directly fund equipment services, insurance, and grocery gift cards for participants.
Charleston G2G describes its mission as offering "pastoral guidance and direction that is prophetic, transformational (inner & outer), and non-oppositional." The program focuses on practical firearm disposal solutions without judgment or debate about gun ownership itself.
Loading comments...