Recycle and help others. Here are some small charitable projects that we in Palm Cove can do to help our environment and others at the same time. I�ve had several Moms of teens ask me about community projects for their children. Well, here are some ideas of how they can earn their community hours and make a difference by collecting old magazines, computers, cell phones and eyeglasses. Adults are welcome to adopt a project as well. You can set up collection boxes or offer to pick up items for donation.
CELL PHONES - The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was started in April 2004 by 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, Massachusetts. Robbie and Brittany's goal is to help our soldiers serving overseas call home. They hope to provide as many soldiers as possible with prepaid calling cards. Through generous donations and the recycling of used cell phones, Robbie and Brittany have already distributed thousands of calling cards to soldiers around the globe. www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com (free postage and shipping labels). The Stuart Police Department on Martin Luther King has a collection site for this project. COMPUTERS- A friend of mine volunteers with The Treasure Coast Chapter of SCORE (Counselors to America�s Small Business) www.score308.com which is a 501-c-3 non-profit association. He accepts donated used computers, cleans out the old data and refurbishes them for use either for their offices or for the Sheriff�s Youth camp, which uses them for teaching kids how to build and repair computers. In some cases, they donate to local churches for use by Seniors who do not have computers. Very old machines can be cannibalized for parts. Widows 98 operating systems and later are preferred. Donations are tax deductible and receipts are given. Whoever takes on this project can check with me about where to deliver them. MAGAZINES - Collect used magazines and deliver to women�s shelters, hospitals, assisted living and nursing home facilities. EYEGLASSES AND SUNGLASSES-Eyeglasses and regular sunglasses that are no longer used can be recycled and delivered to the less fortunate in underdeveloped nations by medical missions to help enable locals to support themselves and to provide the gift of sight. I was unable to find a local Lions Club, but if you check online you will find charities that make use of them. My �plate� is too full now to take on these projects, so if you are interested in one of these projects, place a message on the Message Board at www.PalmCoveGYC.com to communicate to others your ideas or to coordinate efforts. Doing good for the environment and others isn�t always about writing a check or attending an expensive charity gala event (often with large overhead expenses), but giving of yourself and time. Let's be active in helping Palm Cove be 'green'. |