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Sophomore Leo Garcia will develop a way for Ashland residents to turn cans and bottles into funds for the Ashland Community Food Bank.
Written by Damien Mann, Ashland.news
Ashland High School sophomore Leo Garcia took inspiration from Green Bag’s BottleDrop program to launch the recently announced “Blue Bag” program to provide food to the poor.
Garcia, who is president of the high school’s Interact Club, said her family has been participating in the Green Bag Bottle Drop program for years and thought it might be possible to create a way to turn the proceeds from recycled cans and bottles into food. He said he had an idea.
“I thought I could do something for a bigger purpose than just getting my money back for bottles and cans,” he says.
Proceeds from the blue bags will be donated to the Ashland Community Food Bank. Locals can fill his one of the blue bags at home and take it to the BottleDrop location next to the Shop’n Kart store at 2268 Ashland St. By scanning her QR code on the sticker on the blue bag, the door opens and participants place the bag in the container.
BottleDrop’s Blue Bag program is specifically designed for nonprofit organizations. The green bag program is a little different. This allows individuals to deposit packages with her BottleDrop and have the money deposited into their personal account.
organization provides support
Garcia said the program was recently rolled out with support from the Ashland School Foundation and the Interact Club, which is part of Rotary. The Ashland Schools Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is an important part of Garcia’s program.
“All funds raised, less a 5% processing fee, will be returned to the Interact Club,” said Erica Thompson, executive director of the foundation.
The foundation provides grants and other programs that benefit schools and other educational and charitable causes. Thompson said the foundation last year launched a low-barrier option for local organizations such as Interact clubs to raise money for good causes.
“I really admire Leo’s ambition,” Thompson said. “This is a great project for young people to invest their time in.”
She said the Blue Bag program will help further recycling efforts.
Alan DeBoer lends a hand
Garcia said the idea of creating a blue bag program had been in his head for some time, and that former Ashland mayor and state Sen. Alan DeBoer helped Garcia launch the program. Mr. DeBoer recently handed out blue bags at Rotary Club meetings and is offering them at his TC Chevrolet service desk.
Garcia said DeBoer was very supportive of the Blue Bag program and provided support to get it off the ground. “He was really great,” Garcia said.
In the near future, he said they plan to add more options for picking up QR code stickers at various locations around Ashland. Each bag contains approximately $5 to $7 worth of bottles and cans.
Potential to raise thousands of dollars
Garcia said the program can raise thousands of dollars a year and because overhead costs are low, most of the money raised will go directly to the food bank.
“There was no reason not to plan this project,” Garcia said. “It’s pretty sustainable.”
Interact clubs are affiliated with Rotary clubs and work to provide service to the community. The club, which has a maximum membership of 55 members, is mostly voluntary, but Rotarians help students understand Rotary’s values by selecting and carrying out service projects each year. Students participate in a variety of Rotary projects, including an Easter egg hunt, Ashland storytelling, gift wrapping for seniors, and the Oregon Battle of the Books.
The Rotary Interact Committee brings pizza to student meetings on the AHS campus and occasionally meets with Interact clubs and their officers to discuss service projects and involvement with the Ashland Rotary Club.
The Ashland High School Interact Club held a school-wide mistletoe fundraiser for Ukraine in December 2022 as part of its annual international project.
Contact freelance writer Damien Mann at [email protected]..
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