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The Gathering Project
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It’s estimated that the average American throws away more than 1,400 pounds of trash every year. The man you are about to meet “saves” tons and tons of what would be heading for the landfills—and gets it into the hands of those who can really use it. Kim Riemland reports. |
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SCRIPT:
(Locator: Tacoma, Washington)(David Corner talks in warehouse) “And we’re sending this to the Philippines…”
Look around this Tacoma, Washington warehouse and you might think it’s full of junk. You’d be partially right – all of this was destined for a landfill.
David Corner, Founder, The Gathering Project: “There’s nothing wrong with this pack and this pack can cost anywhere from 250 to 1,500 dollars.”
A pack of surgical supplies that would have been garbage is like gold to where it’s now going.
David Corner, Founder, The Gathering Project: “We get a lot of wheelchairs.”
David Corner, a member of Mason United Methodist Church in Tacoma, runs The Gathering Project.
David Corner, Founder, The Gathering Project: “The Gathering Project was founded to relieve suffering in emerging countries.”
(Corner driving in car, on phone) “We’ll be there in about 20 minutes.”
Most days, you’ll find David out doing the gathering.
(Corner gathers items) “Oh great…”
Like a kid at Christmas...
“That’s good stuff!”
…he celebrates the surplus or slightly outdated supplies he collects from government agencies, schools and hospitals.
(Corner sorts items) “Oh, wonderful!”
His work saves local hospitals tens of thousands dollars a year in dump fees.
Ron Clogston/Hospital Manager of Distribution: “I can feel good about somebody somewhere is getting healing because of what our discards would normally be.”
This all started a decade ago, when David visited Africa and saw the tremendous need for the things we, in America, simply throw away.
David Corner, Founder, The Gathering Project: “I decided then to come home and collect just the junk out of my buddies’ garages. I started going to the hospitals and asking them for donations, and it’s grown and it’s grown.”
It has grown, with support from donations and volunteers. The Gathering Project has shipped more than 150 containers to 46 different countries.
This one is heading to Ethiopia.
(Corner to forklift driver) “Go ahead a little farther…”
Recipient: “David was a godsend of a person. He’s helping us ship these books to Gambia to a school.”
A garbage collector, if you will…
Recipient: “He gets it done.”
…who is changing the world.
TAG:
The Gathering Project is the 2008 recipient of the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize. David will attend the Nobel Peace Prize activities in Oslo, Norway this December.
If you’d like to help The Gathering Project, you can call David Corner at 253- 970-8297 or email him at: the_gathering_project@yahoo.com.
Also, see: Faith helps man turn trash into treasure
Posted: Nov. 11, 2008