NO WASTE PROGRAM:
The story behind the program
Moment of Change is headed by a diverse group of leaders who have faced a variety of challenges over the years. These challenges included racial bias, gender bias and economic struggles. Our Vice President often found herself in technology programs where she was the only African American girl facing economic hardships. She shared her story with MOC group, one really stood out and why the No Waste Program is important.
Our VP was once enrolled in a Coding for Girls program that was meant to target financially challenged young ladies. After being rejected 3 years in a row, she was finally accepted into the program. Her family income was well below poverty level, she lived in a neighborhood where her home had been hit with bullets because of drive-by shootings and she had an passion for coding. She knew this was the perfect program meant for her. Upon arrival, she quickly learned she was one of the only African-American girls in the program. To make matters more confusing to her, she learned that most of her peers came from affluent families, living in some of the richest area's of California. She became frustrated, she couldn't believe that she was turned down for years only to learn that students from some of the most prestigious public and private schools were taking up spots in a highly funded, highly celebrated Coding Program for girls in need. She loved her peers and made great friends, but still could not let go of the reality that they were receiving free gifts (computers, speakers, bags) from large companies. It just didn't make sense to her that companies were showering them with gifts when 90% of the participants families did not have a direct need for these items. She had plenty of peers close to home who didn't have binder paper for school but at this program wealthy kids were receiving gifts they did not need. Our VP spent all of her high school years working in the non-profit arena helping economically challenged students. When she became our VP, she decided to start MOC's No Waste program.
The No Waste program offers companies a place to send their promotional/marketing materials that were undistributed, misprinted products, older events/films/products or items that couldn't be used due to company re-branding. It stops companies from wasting thousands of dollars of products and puts them in the hands of students who need and/or appreciate the items.
MOC's VP has her team package these items up and provides them to students across the US. She remembers how happy she was when Google provided her coding group with stickers, binders, pens and post its. While it may seem small to the students who's family were financial set, these gifts provided our VP with much needed school supplies.
What kind of items does MOC accept:
Anything that can be worn, eaten, used as school supplies, decorative items, beauty products, posters, etc. In the past companies have sent clothing (sample clothing/film set attire/irregulars), shoes, backpacks, binders, posters, branded candy, paper clips, books, samples of food products. One day we received 30 boxes of promotional materials from a major clothing/shoe company filled with everything from clothes/shoes and jewelry. MOC was able to supply more than 50 children with much needed back to school attire and fun gifts to students who participated in our Financial Literacy and Creative Arts programs. It is time to stop throwing out promotion/marketing items, sample items and start putting them in the hands of people who need them and will value your items. MOC can accept anything as we provide services to students from Kinder to College.
Can I write off the donation?
Please check with your tax preparer as we can not provide tax advice, however many of our donors have been able to write off these items (that were originally slated to be thrown away) off as contributions.
Do we receive recognition for our donation?
It is up to you. Some companies send items for students to get only promotion before it is released to the public. In these cases, often the donations come with a request that our students post about their products. Our students are more than happy to give you the most organic social media promotion available. There are other companies that send products and request no public mention. MOC appreciates every item we receive and if you have a special public appreciate request or request NOT to be mentioned (we have had a few people donate and they prefer to do it anonymously), we are on boards. It is customary for our contributors to receive letters of appreciation from our team and our students. Regardless of what you request, know that letters are headed your way.
How do I send items to you?
During COVID many of our team members are working from home, specifically those who package up the giveaway to our students. Please email us by clicking here, tells us how many boxes you believe you will send and we give the proper address to ship the packages.
The story behind the program
Moment of Change is headed by a diverse group of leaders who have faced a variety of challenges over the years. These challenges included racial bias, gender bias and economic struggles. Our Vice President often found herself in technology programs where she was the only African American girl facing economic hardships. She shared her story with MOC group, one really stood out and why the No Waste Program is important.
Our VP was once enrolled in a Coding for Girls program that was meant to target financially challenged young ladies. After being rejected 3 years in a row, she was finally accepted into the program. Her family income was well below poverty level, she lived in a neighborhood where her home had been hit with bullets because of drive-by shootings and she had an passion for coding. She knew this was the perfect program meant for her. Upon arrival, she quickly learned she was one of the only African-American girls in the program. To make matters more confusing to her, she learned that most of her peers came from affluent families, living in some of the richest area's of California. She became frustrated, she couldn't believe that she was turned down for years only to learn that students from some of the most prestigious public and private schools were taking up spots in a highly funded, highly celebrated Coding Program for girls in need. She loved her peers and made great friends, but still could not let go of the reality that they were receiving free gifts (computers, speakers, bags) from large companies. It just didn't make sense to her that companies were showering them with gifts when 90% of the participants families did not have a direct need for these items. She had plenty of peers close to home who didn't have binder paper for school but at this program wealthy kids were receiving gifts they did not need. Our VP spent all of her high school years working in the non-profit arena helping economically challenged students. When she became our VP, she decided to start MOC's No Waste program.
The No Waste program offers companies a place to send their promotional/marketing materials that were undistributed, misprinted products, older events/films/products or items that couldn't be used due to company re-branding. It stops companies from wasting thousands of dollars of products and puts them in the hands of students who need and/or appreciate the items.
MOC's VP has her team package these items up and provides them to students across the US. She remembers how happy she was when Google provided her coding group with stickers, binders, pens and post its. While it may seem small to the students who's family were financial set, these gifts provided our VP with much needed school supplies.
What kind of items does MOC accept:
Anything that can be worn, eaten, used as school supplies, decorative items, beauty products, posters, etc. In the past companies have sent clothing (sample clothing/film set attire/irregulars), shoes, backpacks, binders, posters, branded candy, paper clips, books, samples of food products. One day we received 30 boxes of promotional materials from a major clothing/shoe company filled with everything from clothes/shoes and jewelry. MOC was able to supply more than 50 children with much needed back to school attire and fun gifts to students who participated in our Financial Literacy and Creative Arts programs. It is time to stop throwing out promotion/marketing items, sample items and start putting them in the hands of people who need them and will value your items. MOC can accept anything as we provide services to students from Kinder to College.
Can I write off the donation?
Please check with your tax preparer as we can not provide tax advice, however many of our donors have been able to write off these items (that were originally slated to be thrown away) off as contributions.
Do we receive recognition for our donation?
It is up to you. Some companies send items for students to get only promotion before it is released to the public. In these cases, often the donations come with a request that our students post about their products. Our students are more than happy to give you the most organic social media promotion available. There are other companies that send products and request no public mention. MOC appreciates every item we receive and if you have a special public appreciate request or request NOT to be mentioned (we have had a few people donate and they prefer to do it anonymously), we are on boards. It is customary for our contributors to receive letters of appreciation from our team and our students. Regardless of what you request, know that letters are headed your way.
How do I send items to you?
During COVID many of our team members are working from home, specifically those who package up the giveaway to our students. Please email us by clicking here, tells us how many boxes you believe you will send and we give the proper address to ship the packages.