Western District
Recycling and Evangelism Go Together!
By Chris Kester

The semi-trailer is fuller & lots of styrofoam is on the ground

It was a perfect day for working in the yard, going for a bike ride, perhaps a round of golf or Styrofoam recycling.  Styrofoam recycling?! 

             On April 12, 2008, the United Methodists of Salem-Keizer gathered in partnership with Marion County Environmental Services, Willamette University and Compost Oregon to collect and recycle Styrofoam that Salem residents had been saving up.  It seemed like a good idea; not too labor-intensive, it would provide a much-needed service for the community and at the same time increase environmental awareness near Earth Day and also increase UM exposure in the community, all at no cost to the local churches.  (Marion County designed and paid for advertisements featuring our denomination that appeared in every local paper for a week prior to the event!)

By 9:00 a.m. we were ready!  There were trucks, bags, volunteers, traffic cones and flyers.  However, we had not considered the enthusiasm the community has for Styrofoam recycling.  Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., cars were lined up by 9:15, causing traffic to back up around the corner and by 11 eager recyclers had to be turned away as Styrofoam filled both semi-trailers.  The 200 flyers telling our neighbors how United Methodists care for creation and how they could find a church in their local neighborhood were gone by noon!

Was it successful?  That probably depends upon whom you ask.  Those who were able to empty their garages and attics of unwanted Styrofoam would say, “Yes.”  Marion County Environmental Services, Willamette University and Compost Oregon would probably say, “Yes.”  Those who were turned away to take their Styrofoam back home might not be so enthusiastic.  Still, we can estimate that, conservatively, we helped five hundred families take care of our Earth.  We know at least two hundred people learned that United Methodists not only care about their environment, but actively care for their environment.  Although we did not ask for donations, many grateful people insisted on giving us money, which was donated to Congregations Helping People (yet another way United Methodists care for Creation) and we made some wonderful connections and learned how to do this better next time. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the next time we do this we are so well prepared no one is turned away?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Salem-Keizer citizens began to think of the United Methodists as “Those people who recycle Styrofoam, who care for creation, who are in our neighborhood?”  What are your plans for the next sunny day?

Contact Chris Kester, chriskester@msn.com, (503) 364-5013

One worker is surrounded by styrofoam!