Wow! Jeanne, you have an amazing program where you live. I love the take and leave box also.
Our town's Take'N'Leave has made national news. It's a simple idea to have people leave their reusables, manned by volunteers who organize them and weatherize the whole thing with a big dome.
My relatives from North Carolina stop by every summer asking to go there. Last summer, they hauled off lamps, kitchen platters, and a pair of unworn running shoes. My friends with young kids go to save on toys. I got my food processor there, garden hoses, you get the picture. The sports equipment gets donated to schools who can't afford to buy new golf clubs, soccer cleats and chin guards, lacrosse sticks, etc.
All so wonderful. Oregon was an early leader in the environmental movement passing the very first bottle bill. And we have the cutest "Little Free Libraries" all over all towns in the State. You take or leave books for all ages in a free share. I currently have 2 big book bags of books I've finshed reading that I'm donating back, as space becomes available in the 3 cutest little mini houses or mini bookshelves with doors, have space ooen up in 2 different cities.
We also are part of the Free Cycle Movement with listings all over the state, as is Alaska. Right now Salem mostly has free moving boxes, bubble wrap etc but there is also dishes and household items and a 5' birch tree, a wooden bowl, curtains and clothing.
In Alaska, we also have freecycle in almost all cities or bigger towns and have way more for free as Juneau-Douglas is landlocked and thrift stores are full. A cool bunkbed with built in stairs whose stairs each have a drawer in currently free
These programs are all wonderful!
In the early 2000s singer Willie Nelson (I think he has a daughter or sister or...) living here was part owner in Oregon's first biofuel program along with our Kettle Chips founder (who started in Salem) and a local developer who provided the land for it.
These wonderful things happen all over, just look up freecycle etc.in your State. We also have a used clothing "store" where families can "shop". They do apply first to avoid fraud/resale, but after that one bag a day per applicant for as long aa needed. Currently, they are asking for donations of gently worn nice, business like work wear for new job applicants.
We are very small scale home builders who build super environmental homes and we donate our scrap lumber, metal products even lights etc that are leftover or homeowners who decided they didn't want, to local reuse places. Most cities have those, as well.
All wonderful and like Jeanne, i just need time to think about it, ask a friend and my list would grow.
Do the same, ask, share, donate or receive yourself as needed!
GREAT NEWS!!!
I don't know where the original thread on this subject went but Jayme Close, the 13 year old girl kidnapped from her home after her parents were shot and killed has been found alive after a tip. Her presumed kidnapper was be caught as well.
LOVE this story.
A High School wrestler surrendered his match for the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP after his opponent gets injured. It is a lovely story.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/champion-wrestler-surrenders-a-match-he-could-have-won/
I watched through "blurry eyes" too. The video was preceded by a brief ad that used the term "strategy gut adjustment" Perfect. He adjusted his strategy from it's all about winning to doing what his gut and his heart knew were right.
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This is one of the best stories I have seen in months.
It comes out of the tragedy of the Campfire. Although the Government insists ALL pets have been rescued from the fire area, actual pet rescuers know differently. They go in day after day, setting up feeding stations and traps, trying to rescue the remaining scared dogs and cats. They estimate there are over 1,000 cats alone living in the area, frightened and missing their families. Some are found at the burned out sites of their former homes, others in groups hiding by day and coming out only to eat at the feeding stations set up by volunteers.
Here is a wonderful recent rescue story and the actual reuniting of a cat and "his person".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDwExkJfNwc
Loved the video. A story of hope and second chances.
Oh my gosh. Tears sreaming down my face. Thank goodness for the loving, caring, dedicated souls who take care of all special creatures and give so much of themselves to animal rescue.
Mr, Minx and his mama touched my heart as did his cat rescuers who obviously loved him, too.
Thank you for this lovendures ?
I just watched the viral video of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez grilling campaign finance experts about the influence of dark money in American politics (you can watch it here), and I'll just say this: damn! That woman knows her stuff. In 3 minutes she was able explain and poke holes in a governmental structure that the powers-that-be would have us believe is too esoteric for mere mortals.
I can detect a fierce change-making energy in AOC, and really do think she will inspire a lot more progressive Millennials and Gen Z-ers to get involved in politics.