Seven-year-old Charlie Fischer has organized his neighborhood into a recycling center in support of a fundraiser for his school, the Hollister Dual Language Academy.
"I just wanted to help the school," says the second-grader as he stood in the middle of his sorted piles of recyclables in his front yard. "They will spend the money on balls and an extra field trip, and all these bottles and cans will help."
Sunny Brawley, educational resource volunteer for Eagle Recycling, says her company sets up schools with educational materials on recycling and bins, and then lets the school keep the profit. Many children bring in recyclables, but she says she heard about one student going the extra mile.
"I was told about this young man named Charlie who went around to all his neighbors, friends and family to collect what they have and ask them to keep donating," says Brawley. "I also heard he put a drop-off box in front of his house, and that he has been bringing in recyclables by the bagful."
Brawley says the school is averaging $200 a week from the project, but Charlie says there are other benefits.
There will be less trash in the garbage pits, Charlie says, as he removes the tabs from cans and places them in a bag to donate to the Ronald McDonald House.
"If so much garbage keeps going into the pits, the world will get like it is in 'Wall-E,'" he says, referring to the futuristic children's film where the earth is completely covered in trash.
Charlie's mother, Rochelle Fischer, says the idea to put in the extra effort came right from her son.
"The children were asked to bring in at least a couple of cans, but Charlie decided to go all around the neighborhood," she says. "He got bags and bags, and they just keep coming."
Adds Charlie: "And I made this," as he points to a large plastic pail with homemade signs asking people to deposit recyclables. "I put it where I can see it when I am inside, so I know when someone puts something in."
His mother thinks this should be a district-wide program, she says, and cites some of the benefits.
"This helps the children become civic minded and aware of the environment," says Rochelle Fischer.
Brawley agrees.
"This is so much better than sending kids door-to-door with chocolates or wrapping paper."
And that all makes sense to Charlie.
"This helps the world, and the city and everywhere," he says. "And we get to have new balls at school!"
Jeff Gatlin Jeff Gatlin is a staff writer at The Hollister Free Lance. You can call him at (831) 637-5566 or send him an email.
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