Bending the Arc references a quote by Rev. Dr. King who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This digital newsletter from the CSA Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office showcases the work of changemakers, opportunities to learn, and opportunities for you to help “bend the arc” toward justice. Full contents of the newsletter are published on this page.
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Pill Bottle Donations
Matthew 25: Ministries in Blue Ash, Ohio helps the poorest of the poor and disaster victims throughout the United States and around the world. They accept monetary donations and product donations of misprinted, slightly damaged, over-stocked or gently used supplies from corporations, organizations and individuals nationwide.
Since March 2023, Matthew 25: Ministries has been accepting donations of empty plastic pill bottles for inclusion in shipments of medical supplies. Their pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment. Learn what is acceptable and how donations are handled here: m25m.org/pillbottles/
Looking for other ideas to reuse your pill bottles at home? A search on Etsy will provide ideas for reusing your bill bottles to hold anything from Q-tips to M&Ms, match sticks to paint brushes.
Of course, we are all challenged to avoid single use plastics whenever possible, and start converting our household items to plastic-free packaging. What’s the problem with plastics? Aside from an aggravating reminder of our wasteful society, plastic is a growing hazard to our health and the environment. Read this short article or any of the ones listed below:
- Sam Meredith, "Just 20 companies are responsible for over half of 'throwaway' plastic waste, study says," CNBC, May 18, 2021.
- Hannah Ritchie, Veronika Samborska and Max Roser, "Plastic Pollution," Our World in Data, last accessed February 19, 2024.
- Justine Calma, "Amazon generates millions of pounds of plastic waste," The Verge, December 15, 2020.
- Steve Mufson, "Amazon plastic use soared in 2020, environmental group says," The Washington Post, December 15, 2021.
- "2023 Global Brand Audit: The Coca-Cola Company is once again the top global plastic polluter," Break Free From Plastic, February 7, 2024.
- Holly Thompson, Steve Blackledge and Matt Casale, "The Whole Foods Plastic Problem," PIRG, March 2, 2023.
- Jenn Engstrom, "Statement: Amazon to phase out single-use plastic padded shipping bags," PIRG, July 19, 2023.
- "Costco makes new commitments to reduce plastic use," PIRG, October 12, 2023.
- "Chick-fil-A's new chicken sandwich shouldn't come with a side of plastic waste," PIRG, August 16, 2023.
Follow PIRG's Beyond Plastic page for ongoing updates and action ideas.