GreenBy3’s Community Involvement
Jorge Riano has always considered that an important part of what GreenBy3 does is to be involved in the community and schools. These are just a few examples of the ways GreenBy3 is involved.
Stratford High School
GreenBy3 has a business partnership with Stratford High School. Components of our partnership include:
- Shadowing program – Students from the Building Construction Program “shadow” GreenBy3 staff and have the opportunity to observe how construction, renovation and demolition projects progress with a focus on sustainability and green features.
- Building project for Crisis Ministries – Every year, Stratford students participating in the Building Construction Program learn construction principles and techniques by building a shed. This year, GreenBy3 has connected the student project with a need for a storage shed at Crisis Ministries.
- Expanded campus-wide Recycling Program – GreenBy3 drafted and presented a recycling program to the school. The school is currently working with the students on putting the plan into action.
Fanta Family Festival
GreenBy3 helped make the annual Fanta Family Festival at the Ladson Fairgrounds a “greener” event. GreenBy3 made sure recycling containers were conveniently located throughout the festival area and helped encourage families to do their part to keep as much recyclable material out of the landfill as possible. GreenBy3 also set up a booth and worked with Stratford High School students to demonstrate home energy efficiency to attendees.
Flowertown Elementary School the Green Bees
GreenBy3 has partnered with Flowertown Elementary School and visits with the third grade environmental team, the Green Bees, each school year. GreenBy3 talks to students about what they can do to help the environment.
Mission Continues
Mission Continues was created by a Navy SEAL who wanted to help wounded veterans become active again in their communities. Mission Continues then formed a partnership with the Home Depot Foundation to create “Celebrations of Service,” and selected 200 construction projects in the U.S. on which veterans could lend a hand.
Crisis Ministries’ Family Shelter, which houses female veterans, was selected as one of the projects. Mission Continues and Home Depot Foundation arranged for improvements to the family center courtyard and grounds. GreenBy3 was selected to coordinate the project. GreenBy3 collaborated with an independent contractor to level and prepare the ground for improvements. GreenBy3 also contributed building materials and employees volunteered their time to support the important work of this community organization.
Internships
GreenBy3 regularly interacts with students of all ages, sharing what we do and encouraging green initiatives. We are always happy to show younger people how a local business can support sustainability in the larger community and we are also willing to learn a few things from them. It’s just another way we collaborate.
In the summer of 2012, GreenBy3 employed two college students: Lydia Nickolas, a senior Geology major at College of Charleston, and Ford Collins a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering at Clemson.
By working with GreenBy3, Lydia and Ford received a practical, hands-on learning experience that complements what they have discussed in the classroom. In turn, GreenBy3 benefits from Lydia and Ford’s access to academic resources, their experience with technology, their creativity and their comfort working collaboratively in groups.
Water Missions International
GreenBy3 advised Water Missions International regarding a property the nonprofit was considering leasing. GreenBy3 suggested options for an up-fit, furniture, technology and more.
GreenBy3 also built steps to an existing warehouse for Water Missions International.
Bike Program
GreenBy3 collects bicycles in need of simple repairs and donates them to Crisis Ministries for residents in transition, many veterans, who need a way to get to work. In addition, GreenBy3 coordinated with a local bike repair shop to teach residents at Crisis Ministries how to fix the bikes. So far, GreenBy3 has collected nearly 50 bikes. Some of the bikes have already been repaired and distributed to Crisis Ministries; the remaining bikes are stored at GreenBy3’s warehouse until they are needed.
