Two Ways to Participate in Earth Day in Gulfport

The Salvation Army has two different ways you can participate in Earth Day; a Donation Drive on Saturday, April 21, and a Repurposing Contest going through the end of April.

Earth Day Donation Drive

The Salvation Army has been in the business of recycling and repurposing your household items since 1865. The proceeds fund rehabilitation centers, where men and women reclaim their broken lives. Join The Salvation Army by participating in a record-breaking donation day on Saturday, April 21, 2012. In celebration of Earth Day’s 42nd year, The Salvation Army Family Stores will provide 42 donation locations from around the Tampa Bay and Suncoast areas.

“The Salvation Army makes an effort to be environmentally and socially responsible,” said Major Paul McFarland of The Salvation Army Tampa Adult Rehabilitation Center. “When the local community recycles gently used goods, The Salvation Army is able to recycle broken lives. Together, we can make a real difference in the Tampa Bay community.”

The Salvation Army needs your tax-deductible donations of clothing, furniture, electronics and household items. Visit SalArmySuncoast.org or call 1-800-SA-TRUCK for the addresses and times of the 42 donation locations.

Earth Day Repurposing Contest

In celebration of Earth Day, The Salvation Army is nodding to its 1865 recycling origin and hosting a repurposing contest, with the best repurposed item winning an iPad3.  Those with a Pinterest account have seen many examples of repurposing. For those new to the concept, repurposing is taking an item, making changes to it and reusing it for a different purpose. Examples of this would be turning old dinner plates into art or making a girl’s dress out of a men’s dress shirt.

 “We add more than 3,000 items to each store daily, so Salvation Army Family Stores are perfect places to find items to repurpose.” Captain Liz Wilson of The Salvation Army Suncoast Adult Rehabilitation Center said. “Since everyone is talking about Pinterest these days, we thought it would be fun to encourage people to repurpose items on Earth Day and post them on our Pinterest page.”

How to Enter

Purchase an item from any Tampa Bay or Suncoast Salvation Army Family Store. Repurpose the item, and submit before & after photos by April 30, 2012. For complete contest rules, visitSalArmySuncoast.org. 

You can find more examples on Pinterest at Pinterest.com/SalArmyTampaBay.

YOU recycle your used goods; The Salvation Army will recycle broken lives.  Together, we will be DOING THE MOST GOOD.