COLUMN HEADING GIVING BACK


Festival. Many of Guardian Storage’s facili- ties also serve as drop-off locations for Toys for Tots’ annual holiday toy drive. Since self-storage facilities typically have


empty spaces to spare, collection drives are a natural fit and great way for storage companies to give back. Besides the afore- mentioned charitable endeavors, Guardian Storage has provided complimentary stor- age units to numerous groups and orga- nizations in both Pittsburgh and Denver,


including the Girl Scouts Unit 5106, Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, JWILL Pink Village, PA Police Benevolent Foundation, Tree of Life Or L’Simcha Congregation, Bethlehem Haven, Angels in da Skys, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Collier Township Police Association, It Takes a Village Washington County, Women’s Board of Pittsburgh, and United Way of Weld County. Free space has been pro- vided to AJ Myers & Son for the Fill-A-Bus


event that raised funds for the UPMC


Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh as well as Pittsburgh CAT to construct cat shel- ters. In other words, it’s a giving cycle; by making a difference, Guardian Storage has enabled others to do the same. Creating “green” communities is the


third pillar of the Guardian Gives pro- gram. This aspect includes establishing and maintaining community gardens as well as assisting with the responsible recycling of waste. Guardian Storage pays to host regular shredding events to help community members safely recycle documents and records that contain personally


identifiable


information. The Volunteers at Guardian Storage-sponsored community garden in Pittsburgh Go Green! As Cohen points out, providing recycling opportunities can


be a valued community service. In addition to the paper shred- ding and e-cycling events that Guardian Storage hosts, here are a few other ways to become an environmentally friendly mem- ber of your neighborhood:


Reuse – Self-storage facilities can reserve a unit for gently-


used items that tenants no longer want to keep. The items can be donated to local shelters, thrift shops, and other persons or organizations in need. Alternatively, the unit’s contents can be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to various charities through Charity Storage.


Recycle – To prevent potentially hazardous items from pol-


luting landfills (or being illegally stored in units), self-storage facilities can partner with local recycling centers to collect items such as paints, cleaning products, prescription drugs, used tires and motor oil, light bulbs, batteries, and yard waste.


Although these efforts require some time to coordinate, they


can attract potential customers to your business and assist existing ones.


FIRST QUARTER 2022


company’s Pennsylvania locations also serve as drop-off locations for electronic recycling year-round, enabling people to recycle electronics that may otherwise end up in landfills. Cohen notes that people don’t always know where or how to properly discard these items, so it’s an appreciated “service beyond stor- age.” Moreover, Guardian Storage has chosen to fund four community gardens through the Western PA Conservancy, which owns and manages more than 13,000 acres of land that are open to the public, free of charge. Of course, Cohen’s altruism has


extended beyond these efforts. Through Guardian Storage, he’s had a hand in the initiatives of more than 40 organizations. The company has provided raffle items for various fundraisers, donated water for events, served as drop-off locations for other programs, volunteered time to make food deliveries, and allowed organizations to use rental trucks for col- lections. Clearly, Cohen and Guardian Storage are making an impressive (and inspiring) impact in the communities they serve. “We have a commitment to always do


the right thing,” says Cohen, “and be a respected member of the community.”


Morals To Murals As a continuation of the Guardian Gives


program, Cohen has made it his mission to beautify the communities in which Guardian


Storage operates. Besides


developing physically appealing facilities, Cohen has been finding out-of-the-box


Self-Storage NOW! 23


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