To be environmentally aware is like being in a rapidly sinking boat with only a thimble for bailing. Sometimes, however, a small ray of hope is tossed our way.
While battling our region's ever-increasing traffic last week, I listened to KUAF for bits of brain food to make the snarling time-steal not seem so wasted. I heard that our public radio station's fall fundraiser will come with a twist. They had me at the mention that this year, instead of mugs, T-shirts, etc. as thank you incentives for donating, they are, "partnering with Penguin Ed's Bar-B-Q to provide meals for vitally important health care workers, who have been on the front line of the pandemic for the past 18 months." This will be a show of community appreciation in the KUAF listening area and five medical facilities have confirmed participation so far: Washington Regional, Northwest Medical, Siloam Springs Regional, Eureka Springs, and Mercy Northwest hospitals.
At last, a fundraiser without stuff! Who among us really needs a "gift" as thanks? Who among us donates due to a serious need for another mug or T-shirt? Who among us would rather the expense of these incentives be applied to the thing we're donating to in the first place? Who among us thinks about the impact of all this unneeded and unwanted stuff on the planet?
OK. That last one was a trick question, but I had to ask because some of us actually wrestle with that quandary.
Fundraising is hard, no doubt about that, but NPR and PBS ask up front if donors would like to receive their enticements or just simply donate. That's the way it should be.
But among fund-raising organizations, there are the direct mailers that don't ask. Drink coasters, backpacks, flags, games, bandanas, tote bags, stuffed toys, coloring books, parkas, hiking sticks, address labels -- every day, the mail bulges with a 10-to-1 ratio of more unasked-for junk mail (10) than personal correspondence (1).
Calendars enter the annual mid-year race for whose 18-month, glossy photo pages will arrive first to snag potential donors. Last year 20 of them arrived here, all from organizations I've never supported. One mailed me three of the same calendar, out-doing others that sent only two. Is it high pressure via inflicted guilt or just plain poor fundraising management that's going on here? Or is this an effort to weaken and break our will with inundation and intimidation?
Key chains, Native American dream catchers (made in China?), plastic rosaries, plastic Jesuses and crucifixes (yes, really), greeting cards, copies of the Constitution and, of course, more address labels. "Unsolicited" means, "I didn't order it," because, "I don't want it." Worse, now that it's here, what do I do with it?
Often follow-up junk mail will ask, "Did you get our calendar (or whatever)? We haven't heard from you." No, and they won't because I don't want to encourage them, and I really wish the rest of you wouldn't encourage them either. Trying to guilt folks into donating shouldn't work to get donations, but evidently it does. That's sad.
The environmental impact of these products is huge. Paper from downed trees, inks from dubious chemicals, and plastics from fossil fuels are pumped into products by factories and laborers around the globe. Then shiploads cross oceans, trucks and trains spread stuff around, and postal services deliver to our doorsteps -- all consuming fuel and emitting pollution. For what? The landfill?
Nickels, dimes, pennies, ballpoint pens, lapel pins, note pads, stationery, fancy certificates of appreciation (yuck -- would anyone really hang these on their wall?), seeds (China again?), beer koozies, DVDs, huge envelopes, magnet-backed business ads, chip bag clips, plastic Xmas ornaments, desk-ready plastic appreciation "awards," stickers, miniature Tibetan prayer flags, and more address labels (enough now for seven
lifetimes at the same address). Most of these things aren't even single-use. They are of no use. They trash the world in their making and become garbage upon arrival. Most aren't in any way recyclable or compostable.
Hallelujahs to Penguin Ed and KUAF for coming up with a truly worthwhile incentive for their fundraiser, which will run from Sept. 24-30 to encourage 30 donors to give a minimum of $30 each for a specific hospital, which will then be provided gift cards for 50 workers.
It is my hope that this method of fundraising catches on so other organizations will copy it for showing thanks or for helping solve genuine needs while not junking up the world.