Join recycling effort

TIFFIN—Glass Roots, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting at-risk youth through recycling efforts, is calling on individuals and businesses in Tiffin and Seneca County to join the cause. By donating recyclables, community members can help provide essential hygiene kits and other supplies to children in need while contributing to environmental sustainability. "We believe that by coming together as a community, we can not only make Tiffin greener but also provide critical support to local children who need it most," said Kendra Nye, Founder of Glass Roots. The nonprofit's mission is twofold: to promote environmental sustainability and to provide essential resources to disadvantaged children. "Every can donated helps us fund vital resources for youth who might otherwise go without basic necessities." Since its inception, Glass Roots has recycled over 233,172 cans and 7,294 pounds of steel shred, with proceeds funding essential supplies like hygiene kits, meal kits, and school supplies for at-risk youth. Glass Roots has succeeded beyond what Nye anticipated. "We've reached the point where we can give back financially to our communities, something we could only dream about when we first started. Our growth has allowed us to expand our impact in ways we never imagined." However, the need continues to grow, and Glass Roots is expanding its efforts to involve more people and businesses in its mission. Nye has big dreams and big plans for the project. "Right now we are aiming to acquire a pulverizing machine that will allow us to turn recycled glass into sand. We're also looking to expand to a larger physical location to accommodate our growing operation. Both of these goals are huge, but ultimately they'll help us continue to make an impact in our communities. The people in our community can help simply by recycling and spreading the word." There are several ways both individuals and businesses can help. Donating recyclables is at the core of the operation. Glass Roots offers free pick-up services for households and businesses. Donating cans and scrap metal directly contributes to funding programs for at-risk youth. Businesses can also offer to become a Recycling Partner. By setting up drop-off points or hosting drives at their locations, businesses can passively participate and add visibility to the organization. Glass Roots will provide all necessary materials and handle the collection. To get more directly involved, businesses and individuals can also choose to sponsor hygiene kits or other essential supplies for local schools and community centers. The program also teaches sustainability, showing children the value of taking care of the planet and each other. Nye picks up all of the recyclable materials herself and works in a team of three to promote and organize all of the programs. Dedicated to collecting every scrap she can, she will travel outside of the city limits of her four communities: Fostoria, Tiffin, Fremont and Findlay. To sign up for recycling pick-up services or to become a partner, please visit www.Glass-Roots.com or contact us directly at Glass.Roots.Ohio@gmail.com. "By working with us, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to both community and sustainability," Kendra Nye added. "Together, we can make a lasting impact."