I was just renewing ErinMcHugh.com on GoDaddy — an address I’ve yet to use, though I’ve owned it for several years now — and as I was paying, a pop-up asked me if I’d like to “round up.” I love rounding up: it is one of the best marketing ideas of our times. Banks offer it so you can save a little every time with your card; grocery stores ask you to do it at the register for a cause; and now my domain-owning company wants to know if I’d like to round up to the next dollar. Being October, I automatically clicked for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
What did it cost me? 59¢. Almost anybody can afford to do that every single day at the week. I try to avoid making money the base of a good deed, but I so commend new, easy ways to give like this one.
Funny thing is, that 59¢ is the only positive thing I’ve gotten out of owning that domain yet.
Round it up.
I’d love to hear from all of you about other ways to make giving easy. Just comment here on One Good Deed!
Dear Erin,
Is there a post office box or a publisher’s address that I could send a letter to you? Thanks! Darlene
Would an email be OK, Darlene?
Sure,I will explain why I wanted to send you a letter in it.Thanks, Darlene
A little bit of internet searching leads to a wealth of information about recycling! Maybe you don’t have a lot of money to donate and, therefore, feel like you don’t have much you can give. But did you know…?
* A lot of food banks have “backyard donation” programs. If you are fortunate enough to have fruit trees or ambitious tomato plants, there are many food banks that will take your excess produce. Sure beats letting it fall to the ground and rot!
* Nike will recycle your old sneakers and use them to create materials used in children’s playgrounds. Most Nike and Converse stores offer a recycling bin—you can clean up your closets and still keep them out of the landfill.
* As e-waste recycling becomes more requested, many non-profits are partnering with eWaste recyclers to run neighborhood events. You can bring in your busted electronics and out-dated small appliances, the recycler will repurpose or recycle the parts, and the non-profit gets a portion of the funds acquired through such donations during that time period. Now that’s a smart idea!
* If you have a drawer full of unused cell phones/smartphones that collect dust each time you upgrade, consider sending them to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Your donation could be a lifeline for someone, literally.
As we get more crowded on this tiny blue space marble, the need to recycle/reuse/repurpose is going to grow. Why not get into the habit now of finding ways to do so now? Really, isn’t that a good deed that benefits us all?
Hey, Jen –
Thanks for the list — a couple of these are new to me, some I did as a good deed in the book. I actually recycled my Christmas tree, too, at a local Mulchfest! Thanks for all the great ideas!