All you need to know about…

giving happiness global impact

Day 27: One Dime at a Time

As I mentioned in a recent post one of my many jobs in our family is to grocery shop. I think I am in the grocery store approximately every other day. This post isn’t about food, it’s about bags. When my son turned 1 year old, he received this great book called My Bag and Me. and it’s is one of his favourites. It teaches a child how to save the planet one bag at a time. It teaches them to bring a reusable bag into a store (provided in the book) so we don’t use a plastic bag.

Do you have any idea what plastic garbage bags do to our oceans alone. An organization called Reuseit it has some eye opening facts on the effects of plastic bags on our earth.

Did you know there is a “plastic island” off the west coast of California. The currents swirl in just the right way and accumulate all the bags in one area now the size of Texas! 3,960,000 pounds of plastic bags were produced last year and 90% are discarded. Where did they all go to?

One of the grocery stores we shop at weekly is Whole Foods. This store has a bag program that encourages you to bring your own bags and encourages you to donate to their in house program is called One Dime at a Time.

“Whole Foods Market offers 10¢ per bag to customers who reuse their own bags. Customers can accept their refund, or direct the cashier to donate the cash to the store’s chosen non-profit – through the One Dime at a Time (ODAAT) program. This program reduces our impact on the environment & supports a local nonprofit.”

GIVE 27 / Day 27

The GIVE of the day is a donation made to Harvest Project because I brought my own bags to Whole Foods. Through their “One Dime at A Time” bag program I was able to choose to get a refund of a dime off my bill per bag I used or donate that dime(s) to one of three local charities.  I brought in and used 4 of my own bags today therefore making a 40 cent donation.

A quick calculation:

6 bags a weeks on average used at Whole Foods

60 cents a week x 52 weeks = $31.20

Not a lot of money from one person but multiply that by 1000 customers that go into the store every week and together we have now made a donation of $31,200 this year.

The additional bonus: 312,000 bags that will not be floating around the ocean from one store alone!

Time Commitment: 0  Cost: 0

What people are saying about 365give

“I wanted to express my gratitude for the teaching you provided today. Your message was delivered eloquently, compassionately, and without judgment. The kids were engaged, and now have knowledge with which they can change the world. We all appreciated how you took the time to help us learn to build positive mindsets and practice happiness.”
Shelley Gardner, Grade 6 Ridgeview Elementary (West Vancouver)
“Actions really do speak louder than words, which is why I believe the 365give Challenge has resonated throughout my community. Every give we do is so important to us and leaves us happier and appreciating our lives a little bit more than before.”
Mahina Niyozova (Tajikistan)
“After watching the 365give TEDx Talk, I was inspired to join and begin a daily giving program in India. Today, along with 12 other volunteer women, we provide 100 meals to local underprivileged children in Bangalore for school every day.”
Deepika Ahuja, Mom (Bangalore, India)
“My life has greater meaning now.”
Renate Jorge, @BeKindBrazil and 365give Member, Family Program (Brazil)
“I just wanted to share that 365give really helped me. I am a better person now, thank you.”
MayLee, 365give Member, Individual Program
“This 365give Challenge has really injected excitement and extra enthusiasm in each work day as I think about what we can do. It has motivated me and the students.”
Cristina Peters, School Counselor (New York City, USA)
“I have seen a huge shift in energy throughout my classroom since doing the 365give Challenge. The Challenge has empowered my students to make a positive difference in the school’s community and beyond.”
Cella Adriana, Special Needs Educator /The Holliswood School (New York City, USA)
“The 365give Challenge helps students understand their impact on others. It opens avenues for introducing and discussing global and local issues in classrooms. It is powerful to watch students of all ages think about how they can make a change in another person’s life with one small act.”
Jessica Hall, Primary Teacher, French Immersion at École Pauline Johnson (West Vancouver, Canada)