Beginning October 1, Live Thrive will launch a pilot program in partnership with Novus Solutions to accept vapes for safe recycling. We know these items are becoming increasingly common, and because they contain lithium-ion batteries and other materials that should not go in the trash, finding a responsible solution is important. We’re glad to be able to offer a recycling option for an item that has become more difficult to dispose of properly.
We are also very excited to announce that we are now accepting home medical equipment at CHaRM DeKalb through our partnership with Friends of Disabled Adults and Children (FODAC). I love this program because it gives useful items such as wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs and adaptive equipment a second life. FODAC refurbishes and sanitizes the equipment so it can go to people who truly need it rather than ending up in a landfill.
Eleven years in, our CHaRM locations continue to show us just how much these services are needed. Year to date, our two locations have welcomed more than 55,000 visitors and collected more than 3.59 million pounds of materials. Each visit represents someone making the choice to dispose of hard-to-recycle materials responsibly, and those individual choices add up to a tremendous impact. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make this possible.
Get involved! Register your company or community organization for the Corporate + Community Challenge; competition begins November 3rd. It’s a great way to get employees and communities involved in recycling, education, and sustainability while creating a little friendly competition along the way. If your organization hasn’t participated before, I hope you’ll consider joining us this year.
Thanks to our presenting sponsor Cox Enterprises and our premier sponsors The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Novelis and Chick-fil-A, our team is busy getting ready for our annual fundraiser, A CHaRM’ing Evening. On October 22 at The Stave Room, Yacht Rock Revue will provide an intimate performance, and yes, I’ll be fully dressed for our “favorite decade” costume contest! I can’t wait to see everyone’s costumes.
There is a lot to look forward to this fall, and I’m so grateful to our staff, board, partners, volunteers and everyone who continues to support our work. Your generosity allows Live Thrive to continue creating meaningful, sustainable solutions for our community!
Take good care,
Peggy Whitlow Ratcliffe
Founder/Executive Director, Live Thrive