Americans Look To Recycling As Easy Way to Give to Deserving Charities

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Americans Look To Recycling As Easy Way to Give to Deserving Charities

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For Immediate Release

Americans Look To Recycling As Easy Way to Give to Deserving Charities

In celebration of "Make a Difference Day" this Saturday, October 27, many Americans are finding unique and non-costly ways to give back to their communities.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -/E-Wire/-- If you are looking for a quick and easy way to give to a deserving charity — a way that requires no money and little effort — look no further. One way is as simple as popping the top on your favorite beverage, enjoying a cold drink, then taking the empty aluminum can to a recycling center in your community. The money can, in turn, go to benefit a charitable organization of your choosing.

One program, called Aluminum Cans Build Habitat for Humanity Homes (ACBHHH), is an example of a way to blend the act of volunteerism, charitable giving and environmental stewardship. The program consists of a recycling network of more than 400 Habitat for Humanity affiliates and 2,200 recycling centers across the U.S. Money earned from recycled aluminum cans goes to Habitat to help build more homes.

"A can that would normally be tossed in the trash can now make a real difference here and in towns across the country." said Karen Palmer, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity of Hopkins County in Madisonville, Kentucky. "Last year for Make a Difference Day, we worked with our local Big Brothers/Big Sisters chapter and collected over 400,000 cans in one day. This year we are working with the Girl Scouts and hope to double that amount. It's refreshing to see a community turn out in full force and not only help save the environment, but help us earn more money to fund our activities."

"People are re-prioritizing their charitable giving. They are very focused on what is important to them, whether it is preserving the government, preserving our heritage, or preserving our environment. These issues are on the front burner," says Joyce Brundage, Vice President of Public Interest Communications, a tele-fundraising firm headquartered in Falls Church, VA. Public Interest Communications operates the toll-free number for the ACBHHH recycling program.

"We have seen the interest in the aluminum recycling program spike in recent weeks. More people are calling ACBHHH and want to get involved in a way that does not make such a dent in their pocket books, but helps the environment, and Habitat. " Brundage adds.

Recycling can be a lucrative endeavor for a charitable organization. For example, more than $1 billion was paid out by the aluminum industry in recycling proceeds last year. If one percent of those cans is captured for Habitat, 250 homes could be built each year.

"We have seen the aluminum recycling program grow in energy and effectiveness over the years," said Millard Fuller, president and founder of Habitat for Humanity International. "Children all the way up to senior citizens are collecting and recycling cans on behalf of our affiliates. Some affiliates make thousands of dollars each year from the proceeds of recycling. Habitat encourages everyone to volunteer their time and their cans to help us fulfil our mission of building simple, decent housing with deserving families around the world."

ACBHHH is a partnership with The Aluminum Association and Habitat for Humanity International. Now in its fourth year, the program reports that more than 500,000 pound of cans have been recycled nationwide for Habitat. If you are interested in helping, call 1-888-798-CANS to find a participating Habitat affiliate and recycling center near you.

Make A Difference Day is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Make A Difference Day is an annual event that takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October. Millions have participated. Last year, 2.2 million people volunteered on Make a Difference Day, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns and helping an estimated 25 million people.

The Aluminum Association

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