Filed under: General, Going Green | Tags: Business, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, Gift, Gift wrapping, New Year, Shopping, Triad Goodwill, United States Environmental Protection Agency
Triad Goodwill loves to highlight fellow organizations working toward a greener world. Today, our resident “reuse expert” Executive Director of Reuse Alliance, MaryEllen Etienne, shares her zero-waste tips for this holiday season.
If your trash can is already feeling fuller than usual, you’re not alone; according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, our household waste increases by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day – this translates into an additional 1 million tons each year. That is a tremendous amount of trash in the name of good tidings. To combat this, we have provided a few tips that will help you towards having a zero waste holiday.
1. Rethink your Gifting
“In terms of holiday giving, I recommend that you give gifts that have a lasting impression, help reduce waste, and ideally support local businesses. I personally love to receive “experience” gifts (massages, concert tickets, tea for two). But what about for people who are more into “things”? You can give homemade gifts in reusable containers, pre-loved and upcycled goodies or even regift something you no longer love.”
Homemade: Who doesn’t love fresh baked cookies, cakes, and candies in a reusable tin? And homemade crafts and home décor are easy and fun to give, too. Your loved ones with certainly appreciate the time and effort you put into these special gifts.
Pre-Loved: Gently used items at thrift stores are great ways to give a zero-waste gift. You can find amazing items at your local thrift, like Goodwill, or consignment shops, antique shop or reseller/swap site. Whether it’s an antique jewelry box, a vintage chess set, or some funky art pottery – it will be cherished.
2. Green your Gift Wrap
“When it comes to wrapping your good tiding this year, be resourceful.”
Reusable Wrap: If it’s in your budget, I highly recommend reusable cloth gift bag sets. While the method generally uses a specific type of cloth, I don’t see why you can’t go to your local creative reuse center and find some colorful scrap fabric. You can also consider reusable containers such as baskets, wood boxes, cookie tins, decorative jars – and reuse them yearly.
DIY Wrap: You can decorate scrap paper, paper grocery bags, or left-over tissue paper with ink or poster paint using cookie-cutters or rubber stamps.
3. Eco-Friendly Holiday Parties
“Whether you’re hosting or attending a holiday party this year, there are simple ideas to eliminate waste.”
Invitations: You can email your invitations by using an online system like Evite, or just phone your guests instead of mailing invitations.
Serviceware: Avoid disposables at all costs. If you’re throwing this year’s party and you need extra serving dishes, glasses, or linens, consider borrowing them from friends (the sharing economy is becoming more prevalent around the country). You can also rent reusable plates, cups and cutlery from a party company for just pennies a guest.
4. Planet-Friendly Holiday Décor
“Home décor is one of the biggest places to reduce your environmental impact.”
Trees: Rather than having a paper or plastic debate (i.e. cut real trees vs. fake trees), why not go natural and reusable? I recommend buying a small pine tree and transplanting it into your garden next spring, or using a potted topiary that can be stored on your patio when not on holiday duty.
Lights: If you’re going to put up outdoor lights make sure you use LED Christmas Lights, which are up to 90 percent more efficient than their incandescent counterpart. Remember to put your lights on a timer, don’t let them burn all night, and recycle old lights.
During the hustle and bustle of the season, you can save time and money, and the planet by embracing these fun and easy zero waste tips.
Happy Holidays!
MaryEllen Etienne
You can follow MaryEllen Etienne at www.twitter.com/reusealliance
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories | Tags: Career Center, Goodwill, positive, Triad Goodwill, Work, Workshop
Each week, Triad Goodwill will highlight someone who has achieved employment success, thanks to Goodwill.
Read Sherly Sylvester’s Success Story below…
The Goodwill Career Center has been a positive and encouraging influence in my life. The Career Center offered many different workshops for everyday use in the work place. One of my favorite workshops, which I enjoyed, was the “Sell Yourself in 30 Seconds.” By attending this workshop, I was able to use keywords relating to the position I was applying for.
The employees were also very knowledgable in their area of expertise, and so I felt comfortable asking questions that were job related. I was also very thankful to have so many available resources at my finger tips. The Goodwill Career Center is the place to be and I absolutely love the work they do!
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Filed under: Career Services, General, Success Stories | Tags: Business, Canada, Career, Employment, Goodwill Industries, Job, Reidsville Community Resource Center, Retailing, Rockingham Community College, success, Triad Goodwill, Unemployment, United States, Work
Each week, Triad Goodwill will highlight someone who has achieved employment success, thanks to Goodwill.
Read Darrell Womble’s Success Story below…
One day while leaving the Goodwill retail store in Reidsville, something told me to check out the Goodwill Reidsville Community Resource Center building next door just to see what they had to offer. Upon entering the Center, Ms. Dot Dunlap greeted me and explained the job training services to me. I listened, then told her I was currently employed and left. Who knew in two months, I would be unemployed. So while I was trying to decide my next move, I remembered the Center. This time when I came into the Center, I told Ms. Dot I was unemployed. Her reply was “don’t worry, I’ve been there before and it’s going to be OK.”
She told me about the classes that were offered and some classes also offered at Rockingham Community College, a Goodwill partner. One of the classes offered, called Employability Skills class, caught my attention because I could learn to create a new resume as well as gain interviewing tips – so I signed up. Well I took the class, then sent my resume to a couple of employers and waited. While I waited, I continued to search for jobs in the Center’s Network Room where I could access the Internet and print and fax for free.
Then one day while searching www.TriadGoodwill.org, I saw that the Center was looking to hire a Community Resource Coordinator. I applied and was lucky enough to secure the job.
Now in my first three months as Coordinator at the Reidsville Community Resource Center as well as the new Center recently opened in Eden, this job has been as rewarding and fulfilling as I knew it would be. I enjoy meeting people and serving my community by offering valuable resources that I know will help them, because they helped me.
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Filed under: Fashion, General, Rock the Runway | Tags: Clothing, fashion show, Goodwill, Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Rock the Runway, spring, style team, Summer, Triad Goodwill
The Rock the Runway fashion show that presented to a sold-out crowd earlier this year is making a flashy return for its 2012 fashion celebration! Showcasing ensembles found on the racks of Goodwill retail stores, next year’s show will fuse more Goodwill looks and bolder fashions – and did we mention each look can be found on the racks of Goodwill retail stores!
If you attended the 2011 show, you know that the phrase (that captures the sheer shock at the many facets of Goodwill and uttered so often we finally pressed into Goodwill T-shirts last year) “I Had No Idea,” was never more true than at that show. Every attendee saw an outfit that would make them look amazing and knew immediately at what occasion they could sport it. From a suit that screams success to the showstopper cocktail dress that everyone will be talking about at the holiday office get-together, that show offered it all.
For Rock the Runway 2012, we’re bringing back the rockin’ style team that created the looks we now crave, and we’re extending the runway to offer even more combinations for work, play and evening, fresh for spring and summer, and all at Goodwill prices to suit any recessionista…or recessionisto!
And what makes this event so special is when you remember that the money you’ll spend on your ticket will go towards Goodwill’s mission of helping local residents with barriers to employment obtain job training.
Continue to follow real-time, weekly Rock the Runway updates by visiting Goodwill’s Facebook and Twitter (hashtag #RocktheRunway) pages that will highlight behind-the-scenes exclusives, photos and show updates.
Are you ready to Rock the Runway?
