34°
As the economy staggers along and the environment remains a hot-button issue, good ideas to help both of those issues are becoming increasingly important. Taylor Tait and Alicia Hart, both New Canaan moms and professional organizers, are hoping that their idea -- to build a website listing where to donate and recycle unwanted stuff -- will get a little help from Pepsi to become reality.
The idea, named Rid it Right in America, is currently ranked 34th in the nation in the Pepsi Refresh Project, a contest to give away millions fo dollars in funds to good ideas, based on monthly voting. Tait and Hart finished in the top 100 in April, so their idea rolled over into May and is gaining momentum.
Tait and Hart, both Darien natives now raising families in New Canaan and running their own businesses, met through the National Association of Professional Organizers network. They realized the similarities that they had, and became mentors for each other, as well as friends and neighbors.
"The idea grew out of our businesses, our common experiences while helping people de-clutter," said Tait, who spent 15 years working in New York City as an international marketing executive and now raises her three boys while running her own company. "People want to get rid of things that are still useful or need to be recycled, but don't know how to get rid of it properly."
Tait said that in her time helping people organize she has noted that the downturn in the economy has moved people away from accumulating stuff and towards simplifying their lives. That leaves people a good amount of usable or recyclable items, without knowing where to take it.
The website would serve as a web directory, where users can search by zip code, transaction type (donate, recycle, repair or re-sell) and item type (clothing, furniture, books, etc.) and look at various outlets where the items can be taken, such as charitable organizations, recycle centers and consignment or repair shops.
The duo said that Fairfield County is the perfect place to start, with a mix of affluent communities near those in need. "The bottom line is there is a story with every connection you make," said Hart, an entrepreneur and researcher of small businesses. "You can take a bicycle to a dump yard, or you can find out the name of a man in Bridgeport who refurbishes them for people who need to get to work and don't have a car."
Tait said that, unfortunately, electronics are piling up in homes and landfills, because it is difficult to know where to get rid of them. She would often leave homes with her Suburban filled with a variety of items and then donate them to a charity, Person to Person, but realized there are probably other charities just as important. "Other charities also have wish lists, but unless you know the names, you can't look them up in the phone book," Tait said. "We want to keep things out of landfills, while also helping charities."
Tait is hoping to continue to gain more votes in the contest and is currently getting close to 700 votes per day, but that number is not enough to move them up the list. Only the top 10 each month receive funding. Tait and Hart still plan on beginning the website even without the funding, but said they do not have deep enough pockets to do it on the level they would with the Pepsi money. "We are absolutely doing it. We have great friends who are giving us Internet and marketing help for free," Tait said. "But we could really use the support [from Pepsi]."
To vote on Tait and Hart's idea or any other idea, visit www.refresheverything.com/riditrightamerica, and click on "vote for this idea" or browse for other ideas.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Darien and receive free news updates.
