Your stuff did this! September spotlight
Another month, another wave of awe-inspiring donations by Ridwell members! Our featured category helps you become a powerful force for good in your community, while clearing out some extra space in your home. Talk about a win-win!
Here’s just a sampling of the incredible things made possible when Ridwell, our members, and our incredible network of partners team up to make a difference:
DENVER
Access to sports and sporting equipment is a privilege that a lot of us take for granted, but for many families, it’s just out of reach. Denver Ridwell members gave a major boost to local kids by donating 20 boxes packed with balls, shin guards, rackets and more that were once taking up space in a garage, but can now be put to great use. In partnership with a number of local organizations, including The Lovve Project and A Precious Child, this sports equipment bounced directly into the hands of local children and area schools in need of equipment to help foster athletics. Play on!
SEATTLE
Seattle-area Ridwell members opened their hearts, and their pantries, to the hungry in the Puget Sound Area, giving a whopping 23 pallets of non-perishable food to help others in need. A number of organizations were called in to spread the haul among the locals they serve, including Emergency Feeding Program and Seattle Union Gospel Mission. Emergency Feeding is continually expanding the community they serve, and are focused on providing a nutritious, diet-specific, and culturally-sensitive meal to every person they assist. Your food donation provides a lifeline to local feeding programs like these, and thus, your fellow Seattleites.
PORTLAND
Last month, Ridwell members in Portland cleared out their garages and gave locals in need a critically important gift — convenient transportation. Our bike accessories collection yielded a stunning 6800 pounds of pumps, pedals, locks, and more, which were given to our partner Wash Co Bikes to get Portland-area folks rolling. Wash Co’s mission is to make bicyclists and bicycling better in Washington County – through education, encouragement, and advocacy. Your donation of bicycle gear helps them dramatically lower barriers to biking for the community. The gift of a bicycle can be life-changing — it improves health, lowers household transportation costs, and makes access to employment easier. And, in the hands of a child, a bike can open up a world of enriching and fun opportunities in itself.
BELLINGHAM
Many of our featured categories promote the physical health and well-being of the communities we serve, but in Bellingham, Ridwell’s collection of thousands of metal bottle caps has an impact on cultural health. Our partner, Allied Arts, fosters and supports the local arts scene in Whatcom County through offering gallery space, events, and arts education to over 50,000 annually. In addition, they run a Reuse Thrift Store, which supplies local artists with materials at deep discounts to make artistic projects more accessible. Bottle caps are one of the favorites offered at their store, and thanks to Ridwell members, Bellingham area artists now have more of what they need to let their creativity flow.
Want to start putting your old things to great use in your community? Join Ridwell today — or, if you’re already a member, spread the word about the magic of Ridwell’s featured category to make our community an even bigger force for good. Let your friends know how you gave back to people near you by sharing this blog on social using the buttons below!
