Start here:
Resourcefulness is the way of Jesus. What am I throwing away (or hoarding in my cabinets) which I can share with others?
To: Leaders of every academic institution, all students, parents and treasured alumni
“We are all guilty. Our frivolous actions are against God, one another and our fellow Americans. While people struggle to make ends meet, live as hand to mouth workers and wonder what they will sacrifice to “get by,” we are justifying, accepting and contributing to literal insanity.
A few Sundays back I spent 1.25 hours of my life looking in dumpsters and rescuing viable contents.
A parent had his arm in the air about to chunk a lamp in a dumpster when I stopped him.
Same for the mop he admitted was only used once.
We found 48 rolls of “white gold” TP in its packaging, along with an unopened case of water, a case of macaroni, snacks, a bag of still frozen food – salmon, steak, chicken, veggies, and ravioli pasta.
We found the broom and stand-up dustpan a staff member had mentioned we needed.
A decorative mirror.
Shoes, clothing, linens.
A life jacket.
Shelving, trash cans, toilet paper holders, tables, chairs.
Two full SUVs and we were only touching the surface of what was available and headed to a landfill.
1.25 hours = $4,000+ great condition/new products saved from the landfill (pretty big return)
America! We are INSANE.
How is it ok to throw away good food, new product, furniture, rugs, cleaning supplies, shoes – EVERYTHING!!!
Much of the food was already hot or buried under bags and bags of more stuff, but if we had caught the food before it was tossed, we could have fed, likely our entire 30+ person team, plus their families, three meals a day for the entire summer.
33 people x 3 meals a day x 4 people per family x 90 days = 35,640 meals
Wish we could have taken on the social experiment to demonstrate to Alabama the seriousness of stewardship.
Bystanders blamed the rich, saying the kids were not taught. Others made an excuse the students had to catch a flight home. Donors and volunteers called and texted asking me what Grace Klein Community was going to do. Some students and young adults climbed in dumpsters trying to make a dent in the problem. Most people saw the problem, “what a shame,” and did nothing about it or took one or two things for themselves never thinking of what they could retrieve for someone else.
We are selfish. We think about what is easiest for “me.”
The filter of decision making… I don’t need this should never translate to this is trash.
Our next generations need us to quit talking about them and teach them. We have work to do. Us older folks need a reset too.
Start here: Resourcefulness is the way of Jesus. What am I throwing away (or hoarding in my cabinets) which I can share with others?
If you have ANY overage food, please donate to our food rescue initiative Feed BHM!
…and all the other stuff. ❤️” – Jenny Waltman, Founder
