greenLockers

What a Success!!!! Thanks to Everyone!!

WOW! What a Day!!! I first and foremost just want to thank God for allowing the event to be pulled off without a hitch. Secondly, most of the credit goes to many of you. . .  the people that gave up so much of their time and energy (primarily through shivering) on Saturday to be the face of greenLockers. This was the first public appearance of greenLockers (this year – new name, new nonprofit status, and new logo) to the public as a whole here, and I could not have been more pleased!

Let me give you some of my highlights:

1. Dark and early 7:35am on Sat. morning go on camera with Nick from WNDU – trying to get the word out early – interviewed by the entrance to Martin’s or what I like to call – the “Wind tunnel” ~ -8 wind chill they said. . . . I was praying for the commitment of my team and my community – that all would turn out – they did not disappoint!

2. ~ 8:00am -  The Martin’s manager – Doug – at Ironwood and SR23 – helping me shovel the sidewalk for 10 minutes. . . with no coat on (just a short-sleeved shirt) – and then bringing out coffee and and a fresh round of donuts – free of charge!!

3. My neighbor – Barb – gets a promo on the 8:15 live broadcast of WNDU’s morning show. . . I asked her the night before if she wanted to be on TV – why?. . . because I think everone over the age of 65 around here watches that show on Sat. morning – if they saw her up and contributing maybe they would too.  Once, again, saw many senior citizens on Sat. – I love their commitment and their smiles! – you can see some of WNDU’s video reports HERE

4. ~8:35 – My unbelievable sister-in-law Jennifer Thursby shows up (my partner in crime in organizing all of this!), and she is ready to ROCK! – I love her energy – she really made this thing work!!

5. ~8:45 – One of my great friends – Kevin shows up early to get things rolling at the ND Martin’s – - 2 stories involving Kevin – 1). good thing he was there, he had to call 9-1-1 later that morning for a woman who slipped on the ice . . . 2). people often pulled up to our table and then just popped open their trunk for us to get out the container . . . well, one time a car pulled up, and so naturally Kevin went back to the trunk and opened it. . . . that was until, the driver yelled back at him “what are you doing?!! – oops. . . . guess he didn’t have a bin   – thanks Kevin for your leadership and commitment.

6. ~ 9:00 – Trek down to the Western Avenue Martin’s where my good friend, and fellow Bethel professor, Josh Sauerwein had set up camp, along with some great volunteers! I was at this location – not because I thought it would bring in a ton of bins, but 3 other reasons: 1). This is an area that Entermission is pouring into with its community center (MC3), and I wanted to be an extension of that 2). This is an area that will be receiving a lot of our supplies come June, so I wanted to have a presence now, so they will trust us then 3). This area of town is desolate in many ways – this recession has pummeled them so much already – I wanted to be a light of hope on Sat., and the people I met were amazing! – at the end of the day, they ended up with 100 Bins- GREAT JOB! . . . . The information cards and green mints were an especially big hit here!

- side note – Ben Sanders (professional photographer and videographer) is AWESOME, and I so appreciate him hanging out with us today – got some great footage – thanks Ben!!!!

7. ~ 9:45 – over to Erskine Plaza to check on Amy Sipe and her crew. Soon after I show up . . . an older gentleman rolls up in a souped-up (sp?) Corvette and gives each of the young ladies roses – like a half-dozen each!! . . . . I also heard that there had been a guy there earlier yelling at them for being “green” – asking “why do you care about the environment anyway?!!!” – and then also commenting that “China is the real problem, and all we have to do is . . . .sell them FLORIDA – that would solve everything. . . . . . WHAT?!” – so, one of the volunteers commented “we are just collecting old recycling bins, man” . . . . . . . he said “Oh . . .” and then went away. . . . . . . . . . – at the end of the day, they ended up with 271 Bins- GREAT JOB!

8. ~11:00 - Over to Bittersweet to check out Marlyn and her crew – this was a tough location because a lot of Mishawaka residents did not get new recycling containers – they’re on a slightly different system. Once again, though, I want to be in Mishawaka schools come May, and so I wanted to make a good impression in the area – mission accomplished.  – at the end of the day, they ended up with 100 Bins- GREAT JOB!

9. ~12:00 noon – Back up to ND’s Martin’s . . . I am surprised to see around 10 volunteers hanging out collecting bins – GREAT! considering I only had like 3 scheduled. It just blew me away to see the performance of my volunteer team. . . I couldn’t be more proud!!

10. ~12:30 – get a call that WAOR – the Bear is having a super bowl contest at the Granger Martin’s, and Tia Brown (the volunteer leader at that location) has asked them for a spot on their live broadcast. . . . they said yes!!! So, I get up there, and watch some guy go nuts when he won the contest!! . . .and then walk outside to the van and do a live remote with Mike – GREAT!! – thanks WAOR for the free air time! By the way. . . well done Granger – between Heritage Square (which was NOT a drop-off site) and the Granger Martins – 200 bins!!

11. ~1:30 - Back to ND’s Martin’s to see that J aquila, and his volunteer team, has taken over the reigns nicely – and leading the charge into the last 1.5 hours. He also coordinates (and later stars in. . . ) another round of WNDU footage/interview (you can see some of WNDU’s video reports HERE). A South Bend Tribune reporter and photographer also stops by and gets some more information from us. . . not sure when that will be in the paper, but looking forward to it !! – way to go ND – at the end of the day, they ended up with 450 Bins- GREAT JOB!

12. ~2:45 – Brian Young and his crew load up the containers at ND (he donated his box truck – which was huge!), and I headed back down to Erskine Plaza to help out my second warhouse/truck team of Brian Thursby (my incredible brother-in-law) and Jacob Rendall. Just want to say thanks for Penske trucks as well, for helping us out with a truck this weekend!!  I was told that FOX 28 news had shown up and done an interview with Robert – one of the volunteers – check it out HERE.

13. ~4:00 – meet the two trucks at the 5-star warehouse in Elkhart and unload the bins. . . . . what a day. . . . . over 1100 bins . . . 34 volunteers . . . . and scores of ordinary people in the community wanting to be a part of something bigger than themselves!! – Can’t wait to see what’s next!!