Icy cold rain? Check. Wind gusts strong enough to frequently lift weighted tent canopies? Check. Mounds of Styrofoam and electronic equipment dropped off by neighbors to be bagged and delivered to Green Century Recycling in NW Portland? Check. Spirited and hearty BWNA volunteers working to make this recycling event a great service for the neighborhood? Check again!
On the morning of February 21, the above elements were all present at this BWNA event held in the Great Spirit Church parking lot at NE Shaver and Cesar Chavez. Despite the miserable weather, the volunteer team persevered, even managing laughter when the occasional full bag of Styrofoam escaped the crew’s clutches to skitter across the parking lot with a volunteer in hot pursuit.
As Earth Day was in April, it seems appropriate to report here that 35 bags of Styrofoam and 50 pounds of batteries and discarded electronics equipment avoided disposal at a landfill. Fees were charged for items requiring payment to the recycler, with donations accepted for others. After expenses, the event netted around $450. Proceeds will be used to help fund other BWNA events and projects.
Many thanks to Helen, manager at Great Spirit Church, for the use of its parking lot and for opening the doors to the church during our event so BWNA volunteers could use the restrooms or pop in for a much-needed warm-up.
BWNA Events Committee volunteers for the day were John Sandie, Bev Yashar, Claudia Carle, Karla Lenox, Patti Koehler, Kate Krider, Steve Sandie, Sven Hansen, and Susan Trabucco. B-W neighbors Laurie Webber and Geoff Wickes organized the event.
Interested in getting involved in this or other BWNA events? Email SandieFam@gmail.com to reach Events Committee Chair John Sandie.
Susan Trabucco is a BWNA board member and the volunteer editor of this newsletter. She was the founder, editor and publisher of a regional business journal. Since 2012, Susan and her husband have called B-W home, where she enjoys working in her tropical-ish garden. Reach her by emailing Editor@BWNApdx.org.