How About a Little Reuse Fun!
Of course the Master Recycler volunteer calendar has tons of ways for you to get involved in projects to help out our community partners.
Now is a great time to dive into a new project of your own. Here are some fun payback ideas that involve organizing folks you know in reuse activities. Recruit your friends, family, book club, your kids’ scout club, fellow faith community members, neighbors, fellow apartment dwellers, your work volunteer team – who ever you like!
Organize a group to volunteer at Children’s Book Bank
In low income neighborhoods the ratio of book ownership for children is one book per every three hundred child. The Children’s Book Bank gathers thousands of new and gently-used books. Volunteers then spruce up and sort the donated books. Finally, the Children’s Book Bank creates individual bags filled with books and stories and delivers books to children who might not otherwise have books of their own.
How to: Step 1: Recruit to determine the number of volunteers. (You might also conduct a book drive at the same time.) Step 2: Contact the Children’s Book Bank to set a date to help spruce up books. Step 3: Report your hours. (Recruitment and volunteering both count. Sorry, if you just volunteer on your own, it will not count as payback).
Organize a collection drive for the Community Warehouse
Join Community Warehouse help vulnerable populations improve the quality of their lives and become self-sufficient by providing them with donated basic household furnishings. The Warehouse supplied almost 5,200 families with gently used goods last year. That means there is a constant need for more supplies. Meanwhile plenty of folks in your local community have household items that they would prefer to go to a local family that truly needs it.
How to: Step 1: Pick a time frame for your drive (typically two to four weeks). Step 2: Visit their Community Collects Program site to set a pick up date. Step 3: Community Warehouse will drop of barrels. Step 4: Spread the word. Community Warehouse will send you flyer, posters and e-communications to help you promote. Watch your barrels fill! Step 5: Report your hours.
Start a sharing project
Use the Center for American Dream's Guide to Sharing and help Portlanders break free of the burdens of idle stuff: join the wave of the sharing community. The guide gives instructions for one-day gathering of people you know or a larger project that involves your neighborhood or community- it’s up to you. Throw a swap party or organize a community swap event like Trash to Treasure. Set up an information booth at an event to promote your favorite lending library or start one in your community.