Can we get this going on a national, indeed, international level?
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Received from Greg Gerritt on Sunday, October 5. "Buy Nothing Day is 7 weeks away. I am attaching flyers and a list of the currently recorded co sponsors. Use the flyers how you will, print out and post, send along as email, as a conversation starter. Whatever is useful to you and will reach the folks you want to inform. One of the flyers attached is the flyer for the Pawtucket event. Thanks to Arthur, Earline and friends for pulling this together. Note that the Pawtucket site has lined up several places that will take coats in advance, so while it is great if everyone shows up on the 24th of November, for those who need a drop off site for coats, Pawtucket has them. I have gotten a firm commitment that there will be a Cranston site, so if you are interested in connecting with that effort, I can connect you. Details will follow once site is worked out. I sent the list of current co sponsors so that you can peruse it and if you do not see your organization listed, you will write or call to get listed. The only obligation is to help spread the word , though if you want to volunteer at the event, collect coats in advance, make your own posters, translate flyer into Spanish or any other language you can help with, it will be greatly appreciated. I am happy to come talk to any group about the event. I can help you get your own site started. The nip is in the air, time to help people stay warm. greg gerritt 331-0529 10th Annual BUY NOTHING DAY WINTER COAT EXCHANGE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24 10-2PM; STATE HOUSE LAWN Rain/snow site: St. Patrick's School, 244 Smith St. If you have a coat to spare please bring it, if you need a coat, please come get one. History: Buy Nothing Day takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving Day and is timed to coincide with the frenzied run-up to Christmas. It originated in Canada in 1992 with Adbusters who came up with the idea that, on the biggest shopping day of the year (the day after Thanksgiving), people should protest the consumerism that is eating our communities and overwhelming the life support systems of our planet. There's a clear ecological component to Buy Nothing Day. We're consuming the planet to death, depleting resources while throwing the ecosystem into chaos with global warming, ozone holes and toxic waste dumps. There is also a justice component in that it is amazing that in the richest country in the world there is such poverty. "We must. We have to live differently" James Howard Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency Locally: As a positive, community-affirming event on the 24th, we are asking people to reflect on the effects of consumerism to our communities and our planet. At the same time, we are asking people to donate a winter coat they no longer need to the Coat Exchange so that it can be given to someone who needs one. Coats are dropped off at the State House lawn and people who need a coat can pick one up. This is Providence's 10th Annual Buy Nothing Day Coat Exchange. People particpate individually and many groups work together to collect coats and volunteer at the event. We appreciate your participation, and organizaional co sponsorships encouraged. Note: Each year, we get very few extra large coats. So we really need some. Contact information: Greg Gerritt: 331-0529; email:gerritt@mindspring.com Phil Edmonds: 273-4650 email:Philwhistle@juno.com List of current co sponsors Aids Care Ocean State American Friends Service Committee of SE NE Amos House Appalachian Mountain Club RI Chapter Bell St Chapel Beneficent Church Camp St Ministries Clean Water Action Coyotes Corner Diocese of Providence Direect Action for Rights and Equality Dorcas Place East Bay Citizens for Peace Environment Council of RI Episcopal Diocese Environmental Ministry First Unitarian Church Friends of the Moshassuck George Wiley Center Green Party of RI Groundwork Providence Housing Network of RI Institute for the Study and Practice of Non violence Knowledge Exchange Center of RI MAP Mathewson St United Methodist Church Natural News Network Oasis Ocean State Action Open Table of Christ UMC Pax Christi Peace Mission People to End Homelessness Plowshares support/RI Project Outreach Providence Friends Meeting RI Coalition for the Homeless RI Committee for Nonviolence Initiatives RI Jobs With Justice RI Parent Information Netowrk RI Peace and Justice Education Fund RI Resource Recovery Corporation RI section of National Council of Jewish Women Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Shaws of RI Slater's Mill South Providence Neighborhood Ministries St joseph's Hospital St Michaels parish State Housing Action Coalition The Knowledge Exchange Tockwotten Home Urban League of RI Warm Shelter White Rose Music"
