A lot has happened since the last blog post. All indications are that people are thinking about Donation Station when they have scrap metal that they do not want to throw in their curbside bin and would like to donate to a worthy cause. Water heaters, die frames, kitchen ranges, futon frames, aluminum cans and cell phones were donated by friends at work, friends from church, business partners and groups that I fund raise for that are doing good work of their own in our community.
I look forward to the calls that come in during the day asking me to stop by to pick up a collection of "whatever" the caller has decided to divert, donate and reduce their carbon footprint all at the same time. In a couple of weeks, schools will be back in session and a portion of the calls will be for the free paper that I get from a local printer and donate to schools, day cares and churches. For the first time this summer, I stockpiled about 150 rolls, not certain how bright of an idea that would be, but it turns out, that new "takers" came along and after 75 rolls to one person, 45 rolls to Habitat Restore and another 4 dozen rolls to our downtown library, the garage is cleared and the decision payed off.
If you are so inclined, please pray for me. For guidance, perseverance, strength, courage and humility. So much more can be done to help bring hope and faith to those in need of a guiding light, and I could use your prayers to help find those individuals and groups that could benefit from what Donation Station is doing with the treasures and gifts that I receive from the Michiana community.
The Donation Station bills get paid by scrap metal recycling proceeds, so keep me in mind the next time you have an appliance, automobile, lawn and garden equipment or just a bag of aluminum cans that you would like to donate. For things like automobiles, trailers, farm equipment, commercial stamping or cutoffs; it is possible for me to provide you with a "gift in kind" letter for your donation that can be used as a write off on your itemized tax return. Your large scrap metal items would still be turned into cash, but the proceeds would be donated to a non profit organization like a food panty or homeless center - who will in turn provide you with the letter.
I will leave you with this note. Give this some thought. I saw a bumper sticker this week that read "Live Simply, so that someone can Simply Live". Let me know if that strikes a nerve in you like it did me.
Please post this on your blog or facebook page. If you are looking for a guest speaker at your next meeting, I am interested in talking to you.
Larry
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
My supermarket customer
There is more than one way for a supermarket to feed a hungry child. The local supermarket that donates metal of all kinds to me, just came up big. I have been making free pick ups at the area stores on a daily basis since last Wednesday. There are 21 stores in the chain, and I finished up this afternoon with a pick up in Plymouth. In the last 10 days I have been from Elkhart to St. Joe Michigan and all over South Bend and Mishawaka, even went to Napannee last night to collect a donation from that store.
Other than a couple of trailers that a local company donated to me in 2008, this is the single biggest donation that I have received since I started in 2006.
The Eco Fest booth that I set up last month has paid off as well. I received a call from a church that wants me to fund raise for their prison ministry for women. They promote the fund raiser and call me with details for a pick up. Once the pick up is made and cashed out, the money goes to their ministry. I am doing that for my son's band booster club and just offered to do the same for the food pantry at our church.
At the end of this month, the first "On a Roll - Paper Exchange clothing drive will be held at a local day care. In exchange for gently used children's clothing, the parents of the day care will receive a free roll of white paper for use at home. I receive 60 rolls a week from a local printer and it dawned on me about 2 months ago that it could be put to good use this way. Another area day care is having a food drive and another is having a school supply drive and when the schools reopen, I am going to introduce the program to them as a service learning opportunity.
These opportunities to serve others less fortunate helps me appreciate my blessings and keeps me from sitting around making a big deal about trivial things going on in my life.
If any of the programs that I offer are appealing to you or if you would like to hire me to speak at your next meeting, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Larry
Other than a couple of trailers that a local company donated to me in 2008, this is the single biggest donation that I have received since I started in 2006.
The Eco Fest booth that I set up last month has paid off as well. I received a call from a church that wants me to fund raise for their prison ministry for women. They promote the fund raiser and call me with details for a pick up. Once the pick up is made and cashed out, the money goes to their ministry. I am doing that for my son's band booster club and just offered to do the same for the food pantry at our church.
At the end of this month, the first "On a Roll - Paper Exchange clothing drive will be held at a local day care. In exchange for gently used children's clothing, the parents of the day care will receive a free roll of white paper for use at home. I receive 60 rolls a week from a local printer and it dawned on me about 2 months ago that it could be put to good use this way. Another area day care is having a food drive and another is having a school supply drive and when the schools reopen, I am going to introduce the program to them as a service learning opportunity.
These opportunities to serve others less fortunate helps me appreciate my blessings and keeps me from sitting around making a big deal about trivial things going on in my life.
If any of the programs that I offer are appealing to you or if you would like to hire me to speak at your next meeting, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Larry
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