Your sweeps can make a difference in the lives of fellow craftspeople. Through the Sweeps for CERF program, Rio Grande has partnered with Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) and will accept your sweeps as a donation to help sustain the careers of craftspeople across the United States. Our collective contribution can make a big difference to a fellow craft artist in need. So, before you take your sweeps to the landfill, think of filling the hearts of craftspeople affected by natural disasters and other emergencies.

About CERF
CERF, a non-profit and tax-exempt organization, accomplishes its mission through the following initiatives:

Emergency Relief and Recovery—provides assistance to sustain a craft artist’s career when an emergency occurs.

Emergency Readiness—provides training, information and resources to help craft artists prevent emergencies and protect themselves and their businesses when emergencies do occur.

Professional Development—aids in the advancement of craft artists’ careers.

Advocacy Research and Policy—promotes and advances issues related to emergency relief response, preparedness and prevention for craft artists within various sectors.

1. Collect all of your sweeps into a plastic bag.

2. Seal the bag and place it into a box. Please note: do not put any additional items in the box. We cannot be responsible for items inadvertently sent to us, including scrap for credit or any returned merchandise, packaged with your sweeps.

Send your package to us:
Rio Grande
7500 Bluewater Rd.
Albuquerque, NM 87121
Attention: Sweeps for CERF

We will handle the rest.

1. We will collect all sweeps sent to us and handle the refining process.

2. The money will be sent directly to CERF to aid craft artists in need.

What Qualifies as Sweeps
Sweeps
Consists of the sweepings of the benches and floors of gold and silversmiths’ workshops.

Buffing
Consists of the materials that are used in the polishing process in the silver and electroplating industries.

Both sweeps and buffing material contain various amounts of precious metals that can be reclaimed. The value of what is reclaimed from your sweeps and buffing material will be donated directly to CERF. Because we collect and combine sweeps from many individuals and businesses, we are unable to provide a tax receipt or supply you with specific information about the value of your sweeps donation. Rio Grande , CERF and the artists they are able to assist through your generosity are extremely grateful for your donation.