Here’s a really neat organization that can help you engage and educate your community. It’s not clear to me if EarthWater is a nonprofit educational organization or a for profit retail operation, and they may have competitors, but they sell a neat product and I encourage you to check it out.
Stormdrain stenciling is a good activity because it helps you not just once, but twice.
Giving people a simple and fun but meaningful thing they can do to make a difference is a great way to start making friends and recruiting supporters in your community — and stenciling storm drains fits the bill. As those volunteers go out and play with the spraypaint, they’ll be making an emotional investment in your organization. A lot of them will be receptive when you come back later asking them to take that next step, such as writing or calling some official, or making a donation. Not only that, they will tell their friends and family later about what they did and why. Give ‘em a t-shirt and they’ll wear it with pride. It’s the best kind of marketing and public relations there is.
And of course, the stencils help! A lot of people have no idea what happens to the rainwater that runs into those drains. The stencils set them straight on that and at least give them an inkling that there’s a pollution issue in play, too.
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Hi!
I am the Communications and Development Director for Earthwater and Adopt-A-Watershed. We are a non-profit educational organization, we purchased the stencil business three years ago from the woman who developed it, and all proceeds from stencil sales support our Adopt-A-Watershed educational programs. Thanks for speading the word about stenciling! It is a great way for communities to get involved in protecting local water quality.
Thanks,
Michelle