It is getting cold outside

Almost a month has passed since my last post.  In that months time, I finished recycling a motor home, gave away my daughter in marriage and started getting ready for winter both in the garage and outside in the yard.  In our neck of the woods, it can snow in October, but is certain to snow in November.   The temperatures drop into the 20's and sometimes into the teens, making it more difficult to get around to make the metal pick ups and to distribute the paper rolls that are donated to me on a weekly basis.

I  work throughout the year with The Center for the Homeless, Hope Ministries and families that are food insecure and hungry.  The cold and snow have more devastating effects on those that have housing, transportation and food challenges.   When I come home from work, the furnace is working hard to keep me and my family warm and the refrigerator is working equally hard to keep our food cold.  In other words, I am blessed in ways that 20% of the Michiana population are not.  Poverty does not take a holiday or even a day off and for that reason, I continue to look for new customers that have metal of any size or weight.

Last month one of our neighbors sold their house and in the process of moving, came across an old pool cover that would not be needed by the new owners.  I have trouble saying no to a donation, so I drug it across the street and looked for an opportunity to give it to someone that could put it to good use.  That opportunity presented itself today in a big way.   Storms have passed through our neighborhood, blowing over trees, flooding creeks and ripping off gutters.   One of our neighbors has seen three trees uprooted in the past 9 months and because he burns for heat in the winter has all of the wood cut and split.  When I stopped by to offer him the pool cover, he ended up offering me an opportunity to stop by his business to look at scrap metal he is considering donating.  He also showed me a bike that needed a new seat and a new set of brake cables, so I offered him a bike that had been given to me that he could use for spare parts. 

Later that day, I was mowing the lawn when 3 other neighbors brought by some metal for me to recycle.

Earlier in the post I mentioned that our daughter got married recently.  The cottage where we stayed had a full trailer load of gas grills, broken tables and chairs, etc. that they donated.  There is another smaller load to be picked up.

I am on target to meeting my annual goal of feeding 100 families, clothing 200 children and education 400 students with money made from the metal that I recycle and the paper that I distribute.

If you are in the Michiana area and would like to make a metal donation or set up a paper exchange clothing drive, or have me speak to your group; please let me know.

I will try not to stay away as long next time.

Larry 



















mentioned

Earlier 

Two More Tons!

I had a busy week of "scrapping". This morning my Dad and I loaded 3,000 lbs of tin from a customer in Bristol. It took us 2 hours to load and the crane at the scrap yard 10 minutes to unload. The crane operator asked if we loaded it by hand, and made us feel good by saying that is a lot of work. We are pretty used to it by now, but we still get sore in our legs and arms that lasts for a few days. There was more to pick up than I thought, so I will have to go back on Tuesday with a smaller trailer to clean out the rest. Thanks to the experience I got loading and unloading semi loads full of tires and wheels, I can pack the metal on the trailer pretty tight and with little empty space. That is important with the price of gas these days and the price for repairs when one of my trucks or trailers goes down.

On the way home, we stopped at a friend's farm to pick up some fencing and a couple of odds and ends that he had told me about after church a few Sunday's ago. Between church friends, coworkers and a few businesses that generate scrap, it is not hard to get to 40 ton in a year's time.

I am waiting an another friend from church who is stopping by to look at an axle off a trailer that a local business gave me. We scrapped out the frame and kept the tandem axle. One axle was given to a friend from work who does welding for me and the other one just sold. I like to sell or donate items that can be reused, that way new products and virgin steel is not required to be made. That is whole other topic that can be explored, talking about limited resources and sustainable living.

A tractor that was given to me a couple of years ago is in need of repair, so I am going to sign off and get to loading up the tractor so that I can take it by a coworkers house to see if we can get it running.

Please do let me know if you live in the Michiana area and would like to donate scrap metal. Any size, shape or weight is accepted - and the pick up is free. You can then say you helped Donation Station feed, clothe and educate the youth of our community.

While I was outside selling the axle, the neighbor across the street came by to offer me a washer and television. The washer leaks and the TV does not work, so the washer becomes scrap metal and the TV will makes its way to Goodwill along with another TV that is sitting our garage. Goodwill is a great place to take electronics and they make good use the items to fund their employment training programs.

Finally, if you need a guest speaker for your next meeting; someone who can inspire and empower your group to live more sustainably - you have my "number".

If you like what you are reading please become a follower and let others know how you found me.

Larry