whenever possible extends the life of an otherwise useful item. Because it reduces the energy required to make new products with new packaging, shopping secondhand is environmen- tally friendly. (It also saves some green, not to mention the fact that Goodwill’s great bargains will make others green with envy!) But recycling goods is the least of Chattanooga Goodwill’s repurposing efforts. For 90 years, Chattanooga Good- will has built new lives and renewed confidence and encouraged the inde- pendence of people with challenges. It does this through programs designed to “repurpose” a disability into the ability to find good employment and earn a paycheck.


More than 80 percent of the rev- enue from the sale of donated goods is channeled into Chattanooga Goodwill programs that are offered at no cost to people in the 23-county Chattanooga Goodwill service area. Mission programs range from the


traditional, like skills assessment, train- ing and job-placement services, to the more diverse: mentoring at-risk students to make good educa- tion and career choices, training assistance dogs that help people with mobility challenges, and repairing do- nated durable medical equip- ment for use by clients who are uninsured or underinsured.


ecotip


Family Games Generate Goodwill All Year Fun family games based on cards, trivia and charades are quintessential holiday activities. Now a new generation of games adds fresh dimensions of interest and goodwill. Online games—some are free—extend good tidings to people around the world, as well as our envi- ronment. Santa is thrilled.


Eco games galore: From determining our family’s carbon footprint to making ethical decisions as a business leader or learning how to help child populations vulnerable to pneumonia, EcoGamer. org is a gateway to enriching experiences. More than 20 entertaining websites employ informative, eco-related calculations, games and quizzes.


Assist African farmers: Heighten awareness and empathy by experiencing on a virtual basis the immense challenges of life on an African farm, including dealing with disease, drought, a lack of resources and war, at 3rdWorldFarmer.com/About. html. Free trials are available, plus links to international nonprofit organizations and relief groups.


Become a citizen scientist: At FilamentGames.com/projects/citizen-science, play- ers travel back in time to investigate how a lake became polluted and what can be done today to protect our waterways. Developed by the National Science Founda- tion, in partnership with the University of Wisconsin, it illustrates business, lifestyle and social factors that can harm the environment.


Learn and feed: FreeRice.com allows players to automatically help feed hungry people with rice donations through the United Nations World Food Program. Play- ers select from specific subjects: art, chemistry, geography, English, other languag- es and math. Each correct answer donates 10 grains of rice as participants watch the contents of a virtual bowl gradually fill.


Goodwill employee Domingo Sanchez


readies computer do- nations for shipment to Dell Reconnect


Going green and staying green isn’t


always the easiest way to live. But for nearly a century, it has been a way of life at Chattanooga Goodwill Industries.


Mary Lockhart is communications coor- dinator at Chattanooga Goodwill Indus- tries. Goodwill Industries International is a network of 207 community-based organizations throughout the United States. More information about Chat- tanooga Goodwill Industries is available at GoodwillChatt.org.


Tabletop games: Bioviva (Bioviva.com), Destruct 3 (UncleSkunkleToys.com), Re- Think: The Eco Design Game (PlayReThink.com), Xeko (Xeko.com) and Endan- go (search Amazon.com) are all new takes on the traditional pastime of board games. Some are made of recycled materials, to boot.


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natural awakenings December 2013 17


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