Paper or plastic? Neither.

Posted July 24th, 2007 at 1:08 am by Nicki Dugan, Blog Editor

 17 Comments / Filed in: Yahoo! For Good

When I was eight, I think I was into Barbies, Lite Brite, and monkey bars. Jaide Ramirez-Jennings is busy running the non-profit she started in kindergarten. And she’s using it to make a difference for the Earth.

This remarkable third-grader from Topeka, Kansas, was inspired by Yahoo!’s Be a Better Planet campaign to encourage Topekans to use reusable shopping bags at the grocery store. Her grandmother contacted Yahoo! to see if we could help jumpstart her campaign.

As part of our Purple Acts of Kindness program, we sent Jaide 900 (purple) canvas shoppings bags. She’ll sell them for $5 a piece at local supermarkets to raise money for organizations that preserve the environment and improve the lives of kids, including Keep America Beautiful, the Topeka School Fund, and the American Heart Association.

Yahoo! also donated a Web Hosting account to help her set up a website for her Kids in Care of Kids charity so she can receive donations.

Imagine where she’ll be in thirty years. (Yes, I feel wholly inadequate.)

UPDATE: If you want to buy one of these purple totes, they’re now available in our online company store by popular demand.

Nicki Dugan
Blog Editor

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17 Comments Add your own

gag | July 24th, 2007 at 2:57 am

This is so cool, good job yahoo.
God bless you, Jaide n pass my thanks to your grandma.

When i read posts like ‘Harry Potter at your fingertips’ and ‘Can you hear these images?’ i think, Internet is amazing. Well it helps touch people’s life in interesting ways and most of the time it could just involve your time, intelligence or participation.
I mean someone out their at yahoo could just code something really cool and that could help millions.

Well it is nice to come read this blog here, it sure has cool posts. I loved this one.

Voncille SIms | July 24th, 2007 at 9:13 am

Jaide,
Wonderful!!!! I never did like the plastic bags, anyway.
Dimple the Clown
(aka Voncille)

Lorena | July 24th, 2007 at 9:19 am

Great idea! Your doing your, part in helping the community,especially your helping us in helping the world by offering us your service

Cortez Watson | July 24th, 2007 at 9:27 am

I was wondering what do I have to do to get involved with the reusable Shooping bag campaign? My fiance and I just pledged to be more green. I would love to buy some of those bages for my self and possible sell them at our local store’s. please contact me at cewatson_ehc05@yahoocom. thank you for inspiring me Jaide.

Cortez Watson
SC

Morris Prokop | July 24th, 2007 at 9:36 am

Jaide,

Well done! It’s children like you that give me hope for the future. I have done charity work for school kids in Nepal, and am currently raising funds for a Nepalese school in a village called Bhondhar. So I really appreciate the effort you’re going through to make this happen. Again, great job! One more thing-is there a way to order the reusable bags on the net? keep up the great work. Morris

Patricia Bergin | July 24th, 2007 at 10:22 am

First thing I want to compliment Jaide on the wonderful things that she is
doing to help others ( and at such a young age too)…

I went to the different link- hoping to find where and how I could get some
of those YAHOO bags I saw in the picture… I try to do my part- I have
a couple canvas bags that I use- but if I had those Yahoo bags I could
include a (business-type card) with Jaide’s info on it. That way when
people ask - I could tell them about her story and also give her
email and donation information.

I am a Grandmother of 11 and although I don’t have a lot of money-
to donate-I sure could help this way- to purchase some bags
for myself and family.

Please, at least -could someone get back to me - that this note
was received and read.

God bless you, Jaide, you are doing wonderful things in this world.
Patricia Bergin
pbergin2@yahoo.com

Karen | July 24th, 2007 at 10:27 am

How can I get some of these bags? I would love to have a Yahoo! shopping bag.

Shawn | July 24th, 2007 at 10:39 am

Way to go Jaide!

virginie | July 24th, 2007 at 11:49 am

It’s a cute story but as long as groceries stores will not stop providing free plastic or paper bags, the situation will not improve much. Only environment conscious people will opt for reusable bags.

For a few years now, some European countries have taken action in this matter : promoting the use of reusable bags & suppressing free plastic bags in the groceries stores.

Smiles | July 24th, 2007 at 12:18 pm

God bless you Jaide!

Nicki Dugan | July 24th, 2007 at 3:18 pm

@Cortez, Patricia, & Karen:

Her enthusiasm is infectious, isn’t it? We’re working with the team at Yahoo!’s new online Company Store to stock our reusable purple bags. We’ll let you know when they’re available. Stay tuned!

Sam | July 25th, 2007 at 12:40 pm

She is exactly the person we need to save our planet!

Nicki Dugan | July 25th, 2007 at 2:42 pm

Ok, folks, as promised, the Yahoo! purple reusable grocery bags are now available for purchase at our company store: http://companystore.yahoo.com/4290103000.html

Shahid | July 25th, 2007 at 2:53 pm

Jaide is probably a better business person than anyone in Yahoo’s management.

peni | July 26th, 2007 at 7:56 am

Jaide,
I hope many people will follow what you have done to save the world.

klo | August 2nd, 2007 at 7:56 am

Bags are now available in the store, I bought three! :) http://companystore.yahoo.com/

mike | August 4th, 2007 at 5:13 pm

i’m a big fan too. congrats. i’m green, check out Leafygreen.info